I do not own Ghost Hunt.

Chapter 3- Image of Fire


November

Day 3

"So you're saying Mai looks exactly like this Yumi girl?" asked Monk.

It was around nine in the morning when they arrived to hear the bad news. Naru nodded, seemingly bored as he handed a paper to Monk and Ayako leaned over his shoulder to look at it.

"It seems Mai is not the only person who bore resemblance to Nobu. Isao and Masami's daughter, too, was a mirror image," said Naru.

I sat there, shock filling every space in my head at Naru's words. My unseeing eyes stared straight ahead as my mind reeled. Me? ME AGAIN? WHY IS IT ALWAYS ME? I felt the panic form on the rims of my consciousness. Unbeknownst to me, Naru stood not four feet away watching me, the only one who was not examining the paper, from which I assumed a picture of Masami's daughter could be seen, or staring at a computer monitor.

Ayako was the first to collect her thoughts enough to speak.

"So you're saying that Mai is at risk of being strangled by the spirit just as this girl was?" she nearly shouted. Naru looked at her and nodded.

"But, there was never any confirmation that this girl was actually killed by a ghost right?" asked Monk.

"Actually we received that right before you arrived. The only entrance was covered by an employee and every staff member was accounted for. There were, at the time, no patrons because the hotel had just reopened from a reconstruction project," explained Naru. I still could not find words as an awkward silence fell over us. Finally I stood, uncomfortable with everyone's worried stares.

"I'm going to go make tea," I said as I reached for the door.

"Hold on, I'll come too," said Ayako. Part of me wanted to protest but I squashed it, reminding myself she was just worried for my safety.

We made our way up the sloping hall to the main lobby area. To the right of the main desk could be found a small bar behind which the kitchens were located. We entered solemnly, watching the staff bustle about. I tried to stay out of their way as I found a spare kettle and filled it with water.

"Mai, are you all right?" asked Ayako as she watched me. I nodded, refusing to allow her to catch my eye. I knew face would give away how worried I truly was.

"Mai, it's alright if you're scared. No one here would blame you." I would.

"No, really, I'm alright," I said, turning my back on the kettle and finally looking her in the eye. She sighed and let the subject drop.

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed one of the kitchen staff, catching our attentions. "You look so much like Mr. Isao's daughter!" I whirled around.

"So you knew her then?" I asked, happy to have the change in conversation. The cook nodded sadly.

"Yes ma'am, I did. I'm one of the few who did still employed at this hotel."

"What do you mean?" asked Ayako.

"Well, you see, most of the original staff quit after her death."

"Why?"

"It was too sad for them to work here, I guess," shrugged the cook. I glance at Ayako and found the same doubt I felt glimmering in her eyes.

Why would most of the staff quit? It was unlikely all of them would have been close to the young girl, or at least close enough that they couldn't work through their grief.

"Mai!" Ayako's shrieking and then pulling my arm woke me from my musings. As I was pushed away, I felt something hot flash by my face. The kitchen was thrown into chaos as I turned to find the floor where I had been standing lit by fire.

"Go, get out!" I heard and looked up to find Monk, John, Lin, and Naru shepherding the staff out. I, then, realized Ayako and I were trapped in a small corner.

"Naru!" I cried, catching his attention. He looked at us and then turned and yelled for an extinguisher to be brought. Monk had them before he finished speaking and not a minute later, the fire was out. Monk and John ran forward to check on us.

"What happened?" asked Monk. I looked at Ayako, curious myself.

"Well, I'm not entirely sure myself. I just saw...I guess the best way to put it would be fire ball. I pulled Mai away and the next thing I knew the floor was on fire. It's such a crazy accident."

"This was not an accident," said Naru. I looked at him, his face examining something at his feet. I followed his gaze and gasped. Burned into the floor was an intricate pattern of curved lines.

"What is it?" I breathed, intrigued.

"Flowers," said Naru. I looked at him, not the only one confused.

"Oh, I see it!" exclaimed John. He followed one with his hand and then I, too, could see it. It was a tessellation, confusing and beautiful.

"Well, if this was Masaru, it would make sense since he was an artist."

Naru turned and walked out, leaving us to follow in confusion. About twenty meters away we encountered the man who had spoken with Ayako before the fire started.

"Has this happened before?" growled Naru. The poor man gave him a wary look as he nodded. He turned to me, an annoyed expression on his face.

"Find Mr. Akitori and bring him to the base at once," he said before storming off, leaving me, the cook, and everyone else to shaken.

However, both Masami and Isao were outside of the base when Naru and I showed up. Naru opened the door without acknowledging them and slipped in. I showed them to a seat.

"Exactly why did you leave out information?" asked Naru.

"Like what?" asked Isao. Naru glared at him.

"To begin with, how your daughter bore resemblance with Yumi and how Mai shared such a quality." Masami looked at her lap. "Also, the artistic patterns burned into the kitchen floor and most likely other locations."

Isao was at a lost for words.

"Is there anything else you haven't told us?" I wasn't sure what to do. Why would they hide these things? I guess I could understand the whole Yumi thing. If they had told us, we might not have come, but.....the tessellation was such an insignificant detail. What would it matter if they had told us.

Masami was the first to speak. "Forgive us, we forgot to tell you of the images. This was the first in six months, we had forgotten."

"That does not excuse not telling us."

"Naru!" I said, annoyed. "It doesn't matter. They're only human and normal humans forget." He stared at me steadily and, for some reason, I felt I had insulted him. I backed off, giving him a worried look. He turned his eyes away from mine.

"No," said Isao. "We should have told you. We asked for your help and then didn't give you full details. It is inexcusable, but please forgive us." I watched as they both hung their heads. I glanced at Naru.

"Is there anything else you have left out?" asked Naru coolly. They shook their heads.

"Very well then, that is all." Masami and Isao left along with Masako, John, Ayako, and Monk, who offered to help with the clean up. Lin and Naru turned to the computers and began to take down readings while they waited for the staff to organize themselves into a state where SPR could interview them. I decided to go after tea for Naru, seeing how I had been interrupted earlier. As I reached the door, I paused.

"Hey Naru," I said. I took his silence to mean for me to go on. "Thanks." I didn't see him turn to look at me as I walked out.


Okay guys, I finally got over my writers block. I'm not sure how good this chapter really is and its not grammer checked so sorry :/

Update Soon

-mytruthaboutlife.