Chapter Twenty-Nine

Case Three

File 2

They all huddled around the monitors, while Lin handed the headphones to Naru.

"Play the audio."

He then did so, Mai felt sick as she watched the person tumble to the ground , and the snapping notion of the noose as it reached it's end.

About a minute where Mai was screaming, Naru's eyes widened.

Ayako said , "what, what did you hear."

Naru then put the headphones down and turned on the surround sound

Lin cut the section where Naru's eyes widened.

"What -what did they hear?"

As they heard Mai's screams piercing into it Lin turned the volume up and they heard two scratching sounds, it continued as though it was following the rope.

Bou-san said , "okay- that could just be the rope- or the banister."

Naru turned to Lin , "run program three on the audio from this section."

He nodded a yes and his fingers danced across the keyboard.

"It's done," he said thirty seconds later.

Monk murmured , "god this guy is good."

Naru grunted to get their attention back to the monitor.

They then watched it for the second time, but this time Mai's scream was slightly deafened as they heard the scratches, but heard something completely different than before.

In a horrid voice it was clear to heard four words that were almost in a whisper , "I die, you die," repeatedly it said until the rope stopped moving.

Naru then said , "well it spent no time to wait to get noticed."

Mai looked at him , "wait do you think it could be a poltergeist."

"Well, look who is finally getting some brains about ghost hunting."

Her face then turned red and groaned , "come on Naru I am serious."

"Judging by things that have happened supposedly before and what we just experienced yes- yes it is possible."

Their attentions then turned back to the monitors as footsteps came to one.

"Wha-could it be a spirit."

Lee then came on the screen at the bottom of the stairs where the body has been moved.

Mai then sank down , "uh- even worst."

Bou-san looked at the sinking Mai , " you sick or something."

"I guess you can say that."

He watched her slink away almost like an inch worm from the monitors.

Naru's face stayed glued to it as a couple of Lee's co-workers followed him with some equipment.

One of them then got her face in the camera and said , "er boss there is a camera here."

She got her face freakishly even closer to the camera.

He said , "why yes I suppose you are right."

"Do you think it is SPR's. Think we should move it for right now."

He chuckled and flipped his hair into his face , "of course not- we will not disturb their investigation with ours, but after all."

He grabbed her and pulled her in closer to him and lifted her face up to his , "they will not mind seeing your beauty for the time being my dear. For I know I sure don't."

She blushed , "oh boss."

He then put his finger to her lips , "shh don't call me that again, just Lee."

She then squealed and began jumping up and down.

"Yay- he loves me- he loves me!"

As this happened most of SPR looked like they were about to throw up.

Bou-san then said , "I think that guy should be locked up somewhere."

Some of the others shook their head in agreement.

Lee then cleared his throat , " now will you please turn on the tape recorder to run an EVP."

"Sure thing."

The man that was with them turned it on and Lee said , "very good now is there a spirit here?"

There was a still silence, Lee smugly smiled , "oh come now- we know you are here in your ugly form."

Mai then shot up, looking at the monitors , "er what?"

Naru said , "he is doing something you should never do if you don't have the tools to control it- he is provoking it."

"And you think he can't control it?"

Naru then turned to look at her, giving her one of the few looks he has that says 'are you seriously asking me that.'

He then turned back to the screen as Lee said , "oh, now don't feel shy- I know that I am beautiful- but look through my radiant face and hair and see for who I really am- now come out and give me some sign that you are here! Show me your real form and prove me wrong!"

"What- alright is he really saying that- I mean sure Naru say's stuff like that but at least he has something to back up that he is attractive!"

Everyone in SPR turned around and looked at Mai.

"What's going on."

Naru had an evil grin on his face and all of the blood drained from Mai's face , "I just said that out loud didn't I."

Bou-san said , "you sure did kid."

She then felt like her heart stopped as Naru said , "at least you still have some good taste."

Mai then felt drawled back by what he said , "okay this place is bad enough with just Naru as a narcissist, but what did he by that? What- he doesn't like the way I look, that or he is talking about Kouki- sorry he is not as perfect as you are, but just get over it- or does he even care?"

There was then a breaking sound on the television and they all turned to look at it. The wind was rushing around Lee and his workers and some of the lights the hallway were breaking in a straight line down the hall.

Lee squealed , "lets get out of here-I had enough right now!"

He began run off with the other workers.

It was just after that fear gripped Mai and Masako, and shortly after the lights shorted out in there along with the rest of the electricity and the entire building went black.

Ayako began to scream and Naru said , "quiet- just stay still and keep together."

They could hear the wind violently move in floor below them, it seemed to be getting even stronger.

Suddenly it began to quiet down.

"Is it over," whispered John.

Suddenly the wind began blowing again all around them full force and a scream from a floor above them could be heard.

"Help Me- Help Me!"

Mai then shot up, "come on we have to help."

She began running down the hall with the others of the group in pursuit.

"Mai slow down," wheezed Monk.

She refused to, she only kept pushing through , "who knows what that idiot caused."

When she got to the seventh floor she could hear the screams straight ahead. Their hair was going in all different directions as this happened. "I just have to get there."

Suddenly they heard a cracking sound from their left and the giant window going down the entire hall shattered- making shrapnel going in there directions.

Bou-san quickly tackled Mai to the ground while Lin forced Naru against a wall for his protection and brought Ayako down away from the shattering glass, as Yasuhara and John covered Masako on both sides.

Mai quickly struggled to get up from underneath Monk who both were luckily unscratched, and she continued to run down the hall

Naru ran straight behind her, but soon got side by side of her and then was able to pull ahead of her easily.

They finally got to the door where the screams were escaping.

"It's the mediums."

Naru tried to open the door, it seemed to be bolted shut.

"Help us someone!"

"Just hold on ma'am," Mai then looked at Naru , "what are we going to do?"

He looked down the hall and saw where the others were recovering and getting up, but not fast enough for his pace.

"Stand back Mai."

She quickly walked back as far as she could without falling out the broken window.

"What are you going to do," she yelled against the blowing wind.

He backed up slightly then ran full blast to the door and kicked his leg up to the foggy glass window shattering it.

Mai's eyes widened as he did so , "did Naru really just do that!"

Her brain was on the fritz as he jumped through the window of the door.

The others then were able to get there.

Lin looked at Mai , "Where's Naru."

She pointed to the door and Lin groaned. He then did the same kick as Naru, but took down the door completely. "Okay what else has Lin taught him?!"

Bou-san then put his hand on Mai's shoulder and she snapped back into it and ran inside with him.

They stopped in there tracks when they saw what was in front of them, it was a dark shadow with a fox fire in the middle of it.

When it turned away from the mediums on the ground and to Monk he began reciting his chant and pulled out a long strand of wooden beads.

The figure then vanished and the wind stopped rushing around them, leaving them in darkness.

Bou-san then helped the women up after a minute. The oldest one smiled , "thank you, young lad."

He nodded to them and grinned. She said , "you performed that beautifully. Please tell me where did you train to be a Monk."

"Well my parents own a temple on Mount Koya ."

"Yes I know the one, it is very beautiful, but your parents must be proud of you."

His smile dropped and said , "yeah," smugly.

She looked at him confused, but then the younger woman from the meeting took her hand and guided her to Naru , "mom this is - Shibuya-san, this is his company."

"Yes, well thank you for the help- I can not stop myself from being amazed how successful so many are here at such a young age, but then again everyone looks young to me."

Naru nodded , "it is a pleasure to meet your party."

The woman smiled , "and a charming you man he is."

Mai sighed , "Naru how long are you going to keep up this act."

A few minutes later they worked their way back down to base to see how the whole event that just occurred hurt them. Ayako walked over the old cardboard box and began rummaging through it.

Bou-san walked over to her , "um Ayako what are you doing?"

"Looking for a flashlight that works, crap. Naru you make us pack everything else- why not extra batteries."

Naru looked over from helping Lin put up the monitors that fell down , "it is not my fault you can not see that well in the dark, and if you don't like this you can just leave."

Ayako huffed and began to walk out of the door, until she remembered that it is nine thirty at night and she got here with Lin driving and she lives on the other side of town.

She finally came back in mumbling , "I hate that kid."

Mai looked back at Naru , "hey, when do you think they will have the light's fixed."

Suddenly a light was flashed in her eyes and she brought her hand up to block it , "alright Ayako cut it off."

"What that's not me."

The light then came off of Mai's face and a familiar voice said , "sorry Mai"

, the light then shone on where the voice was coming from, and standing right in front of them was Madoka Mori.

"What are you doing here," asked Naru.

She smiled at him , "come on I know you are happy to see me- well lets see here, I heard that you were working here and I decided to stop by, when I did I saw all of the lights go off so I went to the supermarket, bought flashlights."

She held up a plastic bag, "there is one for everyone." She put the flashlight she had in her mouth and began to shuffle through the bag when the overhead lights then came on.

Madoka then looked up and put the bag down and took the flashlight out of her mouth.

"Well I guess we won't need these."

She tossed the bag over to Lin and smiled , "put these somewhere safe Liny."

Everyone's head shot around as she said that , "Liny?" They were all to shocked to even crack up at what she said.

He looked at her and nodded.

When he walked off Ayako said , "wow, never thought someone could do that in a million years to him."

Bou-san smiled , "yeah things are going to get interesting with Madoka around."

Madoka then looked over at Mai and ran to her, giving her a big hug , "Oh my gosh let me get a good look at you."

"I am glad to see you too Madoka."

She grabbed Mai by her arms and began to study , "you look so grown up Mai, doesn't she?"

She looked over at Monk and Ayako and they nodded.

Madokathen pulled her into an embrace again , "yup she does- don't you think you think Naru."

Naru looked up , "huh." He perfectly heard what Madoka asked, he felt weird when he looked up at them.

"Hmm don't listen to him Mai, He was never really the one for manners," she said the last part even louder to make sure he heard it, along with everyone else.

"I am not deaf Madoka, now if you are done praising over my assistant,- Mai Tea."

Madoka puffed her cheeks , "fine grumpy puss- I will just have to go with her."

"Please do," thought Mai.

Madoka took Mai by the arm , "come on Mai, lets go."

She began pulling her out of the room. As she did Mai grabbed Yasuhara by the collar of his shirt , "your coming too," she said evilly where he had no choice but to say yes.

Ayako looked at Naru, still getting pleasure of what just happened, he only looked away, back down to the paper with the riddle on it. "Now lets see, the first part can be of numerical origins, but the next part is the tradition of japan of east and west, sun rising and setting, but which origins of Japanese?"

The elevator then opened and Mai, Madoka, and Yasuhara came out, with all of them chattering about their life.

They began walking down the hall when a familiar face came in front of them.

Mai smiled politely , "hello Lee."

He smiled , "why we meet again Taniyama-san."

He tries to take her and, but Mai pulls it back, he grinned slightly.

"Sorry, you are just so beautiful, both of you are, and who might this be."

He looked over at Madoka, who gave a weak smile.

He swooped right next to her, bumping Yasu out of the way , "and you are."

"Madoka Mori- it is a pleasure to meet you."

"This guy is seriously a creep. And he knew that camera earlier was ours, he is acting like it never happened."

He then grabbed Madoka's hands , "no the pleasure is all mine- you must believe that, please."

He then looked over at Yasuhara , "is this your woman, I am sorry- I can not help myself in the presence of such beauty."

Yasu then smiled , "please my dear sir, you mustn't worry about something as simple as both of them."

Madoka and Mai looked over at him , "say what?!"

Yasuhara stepped forward , "after all I would have acted that way in such beauty."

He then took Lee's hands from Madoka and gingerly held them , "like right now with you, I can not help myself right now, your beauty is the match of one hundred suns- unmatched by anything. The world would surely die without you."

Lee sweat dropped big time at this, and he seemed to be shaking even more , "is this kid serious, if he wasn't could he say that with such a straight face."

As this happened Madoka and Mai slipped away to the kitchen, only when they got there they bursted out into laughter.

Mai said , "now do you see why I brought him with us."

She pulled her pink hair out of her face , "I do now- I would have never guessed he was such a good actor, I almost believed him, I would have if I had not been talking to him over the course of months."

"Yeah, I nearly died when he first did that- I believed him." Mai then straightened up from laughing after her sides began to hurt.

"Now Mai I did come with you for a reason."

"Hnn, why is that," asked Mai as she put the kettle on the stove.

"First are you okay- Lin told me about the mountains."

"Yeah, I guess I am fine."

"And is Naru alright from that."

Mai looked at her confused , "yeah- why he never showed anything about something being wrong."

"Hmm, interesting, how long ago did you change your look."

"I don't know about two weeks." Mai then turned to her confused, and worried , "Madoka- is he dying or something?!"

"No, Mai, nothing like that, just relax, it is just that he has been acting differently lately, half the time if one of us tries to talk to us, he immediately shrugs it off as though everything around him is nothing."

"Doesn't he already do that."

"Yes, but has he just been, out of it."

"Lets see here he has been an idiot jerk face who loves to make fun of me, and only loves himself more- no I have not seen a change."

Madoka chuckled , "well glad to see he hasn't changed in front of you."

"So why do else do you think he has changed?"

"Lin told me he is leaving work later, and going in earlier. He has been staying all night a couple times more than usual. He has hardly been eating anything lately."

"I didn't know that, but why not ask Naru about this." "I think I have actually only seen him eat two times before."

She smiled , "you know what he would say, that he is fine, and he does not want us to worry about him. Honestly, I think he probably confuses the words worry and pity too easily."

Mai smiled at her , "yeah, you are probably right."

"Lin also told me he has been even more careless lately in a case, how come."

"I don't know- to prove a point about something maybe."

"Mai there is one more thing I am wondering one more thing, Lin told me you have a boyfriend."

"Yup that's right. We have been together for about a -three four weeks I guess. His name is Kouki Sohma- he is a great guy."

She smiled thinking of him as she poured the water into several cups to take down to everyone.

"Hmmph, fascinating," whispered Madoka.

Mai turned to her , "what did you say."

Madoka then perked up , "what, nothing, nothing at all you silly thing, just promise me something. Will you just look after Naru as well, just to make sure he is safe- and you be safe as well I almost had a heart attack when I heard that you two went missing."

Mai nodded , "sure- I'll try- the only problem trouble usually finds me first."

Madoka giggle at that , "come on Mai- here let me help."

Mai gave her another platter with some cups and then looked up at her , "Hey Madoka."

"Yes."

"Well I was wondering- Lin seems to really be upset with me lately and I was...,"

"You are wondering if I can see why he is."

Mai nodded to the pink haired woman, "sure no problem Mai."

Both of the girls began to walk down the hall and found Lee struggling to get out Yasu's grip, with Yasu showering him with compliments.

When he saw the two girls coming he let go, leaving Lee running down another hall.

He smiled at both of them , "I don't think he is going to be bothering us for a while, okay." He winked at them.

Mai smiled , "Yasuhara you are such a perve, let's get back to base before Lee figures out he liked that."

"Yeah sure thing."

They then returned to base, and Madoka and Mai passes out the cups.

Mai gave Naru his cup last and looked over his shoulder to see how much of the riddle he had finished solving.

"Again Mai, it is rude to read over someone's shoulder."

Mai glared at him , "meany, and no thank you."

He only brought the cup curtly to his mouth, Mai groaned and sleepily walked back over to everyone else.


alright one more chapter up- ten million..., anyways tell me what you think. Yay Madoka is finally in it, she is so awsome- and for those of you who asked me what Lin's problem was you are about to find out- so stay tuned for the next chapter of Ghost Hunt- My version- and I am not making any profit off this so back off Layers! (No Offence if any actually read this)

Well see you guys, hope you enjoy the first chapter of the year. RxR