Lin pulled the squirming man up by his shirt. He then pushed him against the wall brusquely. The man wheezed as he attempted to pull away. John fidgeted with his hands nervously as Takigawa's eyes turned into slits.

"What did you do!?" The normally easy going monk roared.

"I am merely a messenger," he chuckled insanely. "Those two harlots will get what's coming to them. Our goddess will enjoy their beauty and life force."

"What nonsense are you babbling?" Lin asked as he once again pushed the man against the wall. The man merely chuckled in amusement.

"Mistress Mary, quite contrary. How does your garden grow? With cockle shells and silver bells. And pretty maids all in a row," he recited as his eyes took on a dangerous glint.

Yasu frowned thoughtfully as he placed a hand on his chin. His mind was working on overdrive as he began feeling incredibly disturbed.

Ayako's scream reached their ears as they all turned to find her being pulled back. A man wearing a police uniform pressed a gun to her temple. She shook in disbelief as Takigawa's eyes widened in fear.

Lin didn't hesitate. He whistled and his shiki attacked. Ayako's face splattered in blood as the man's wrist was bitten off. Lin's nose bled as he swayed a little in his step. Takigawa punched the man and knocked him out. He then went over to Ayako and embraced her.

"Lin-san?" John asked hesitantly since he had never seen him like that. Lin raised a hand to him, and John shut his mouth. Lin then wiped the blood from his nose. After that, he turned to the, now, unconscious cop.

"Now then," Yasu said as his glasses glinted. He then picked up and loaded the gun and turned to the man that hadn't moved after witnessing Lin's display of power. "Talk," he ordered as he pointed the gun at the man.

"She will reign supreme," the man said as he pulled out a hidden weapon from his boot. Yasu's eyes widened as he stabbed his own throat.

Ayako screamed again as Takigawa tightened his hold on her. Yasu and John exchanged glances as Yasu slowly lowered his gun. "That was…unexpected."

"Oh God, where is Mai? Where is she!?" Ayako asked as her breathing became ragged. Monk tried to calm her, but he was also concerned. "These maniacs are here, and who knows how many more are out there. They were so confident and armed. What did they do to her!? To them!?"

"I don't know," Takigawa answered as he tried soothing her.

"I want her back," she cried hysterically as she imagined her sweet Mai injured or worse…dead.

"Naru wouldn't let anything happen to her." Yasu tried reasoning.

"And who would protect him? Oh God. Where are they!? Even the cops can't be trusted! My poor sweet Mai. Poor Naru, Gene and even Masako," Ayako shook as she started to hyperventilate. Sweat came out of her pores as she held her chest. She struggled to breathe as she dropped to her knees.

"Ayako?" Takigawa called out to her in concern.

"She's having a panic attack," Yasu said as placed the lock on the gun and approached her slowly. "Ayako, I need you to try to calm down, close your eyes and focus on your breathing."

As Yasu worked on helping Ayako, Lin and John looked at the blood pooling from the corpse and the other man's wrist.

"Mistress Mary," John repeated the name that had been mentioned earlier. Lin gave him a sideways glance. "I've heard this nursery rhyme before. Though, I never quite learned its origin."

"Perhaps of a religious origin," Lin replied as he saw the dead body.

"Perhaps, and to go to such lengths leads me to believe a cult is involved," John said as he turned to Yasu, who had now successfully calmed Ayako. Monk embraced her as she held onto him for comfort.

"His words stuck to me as well. Have any of you heard of Queen Mary I, better known as Bloody Mary?" Yasu asked as he approached Lin and John. Taking their somber expressions as a yes, Yasu continued. "Some people believe that the rhyme symbolizes her atrocious acts. The growing garden represented the ever growing cemetery of people she executed. The bells and shells represented the torture devices she used, which I may add were quite gruesome. Finally, the maidens represented the people in line waiting for their executions."

John frowned as he took in his words. "So then…it's about people getting sacrificed?"

"It's just one theory. Others believe it to have a religious association. Nobody really knows where it comes from, but I believe so," Yasu replied as John became pensive.

Lin's eyes narrowed as he remembered the man's words. "They're alive."

"I came to the same conclusion," John nodded as he looked at Ayako, who sighed in relief. "He said that they would get sacrificed, meaning that they're safe, at least for now.

"That spirit that we ran into earlier…could that be "Mistress Mary?" Takigawa asked as Lin tensed, likely remembering the dangerous entity.

"I see we're on the same wavelength," Yasu sighed. "It's definitely her."

"If it can have such an effect on these people, then I doubt that we're dealing with a common spirit," Lin said as he recalled his shiki's reactions. "We're more than likely dealing with a demon."

They all tensed at his words, but deep down, they knew he was right.

"Our client-"

"Is likely aware of it all. He needed people, and who better to lead to the demon's home than a couple of paranormal investigators?" Lin asked rhetorically.

"That's why they separated us," Yasu surmised as he cursed.

"We need to go now," John said as they all nodded in agreement.

"We're coming guys, just wait for us a little longer," Yasu whispered as he became determined to save his friends.

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Mai paced the room back and forth as the twins conversed quietly. They were probably thinking on solutions. The natural and smartest decision would be to leave. However, the area was quickly flooding.

"Maybe they have a speed boat around here. We should ask," Mai said as she turned to the twins. Gene gave her a thoughtful glance, while her Naru sighed. "What's wrong? I think it's a brilliant idea."

"I don't believe it to be wise," Naru started.

Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by Masako walking in to base. She didn't meet anyone's eye as she sat in the couch. Her skin was pale, and she had bags under her eyes.

"Masako?" Mai called to her carefully.

"There's so many tormented souls. They call me. They beg me." Tears fell from her eyes as she placed both of her hands on her shaking legs. "I can't get their painful screams out of my head. You can hear them even now, right?" She asked Gene, who nodded sadly.

Mai frowned as she looked at the charms on Masako. Thanks to that, she was temporarily free from the horrible burden. However, Gene had no such luck. He could hear, see and feel their pain.

"Gene are you-"

"I'm fine, Mai," he interrupted as he turned to his brother, who was now frowning. "Noll, I don't think we can just blast this demon with your PK. In this situation, we require John and Lin."

"I am aware, Gene, but we can't just sit here and do nothing," Naru responded coolly. Mai sighed as she looked at his unfinished tea. Her Naru was definitely stressed and irritated from his lack of sleep.

"We can take Mai's suggestion and leave."

"On what? A speed boat? Look around you, does this place look like it has one?" Naru snapped. Mai gaped at his uncharacteristic display of anger.

"Not likely, but we can find other ways," Gene responded trying to remain calm. "If worse comes to worst, we can always improvise."

"Oh? Are you suggesting building a raft?" Masako sneered as Gene glared at her. "Or perhaps swimming out of here?"

"I don't hear you coming up with any better ideas," Gene answered bitingly.

Mai sighed as she walked up to Naru and rubbed his tense shoulders. He froze at the unexpected contact before relaxing once he realized it was her. Had the situation not been this serious, she would have smiled. "I know you're tired and stressed, but we should hear all suggestions calmly. Then we can come up with a solution."

Masako snorted at their current situation. Things were definitely serious if Mai was the voice of reason. Almost as if she heard her thoughts, Mai gave Masako a warning glance.

"I can try to-"

"No," both twins interrupted her at the same time.

"You didn't let me finish!" Mai pursed her lips in annoyance.

"You will not go back there. I won't have you take that risk, not again," Naru glared at her as if daring her to argue. He then grabbed her hand possessively as he pulled her closer to him. Mai's eyes widened as she turned to Masako, but the medium had already turned away.

She felt guilty since it was basically rubbing salt on Masako's wounds, but she didn't want to stop Naru's spontaneous actions. She settled by sitting beside him without removing her hand from his hold.

Gene winced, yet schooled his features. Noll was getting more possessive by the day, and he honestly couldn't blame him.

"Noll's right though, Mai. You can't risk going into the astral plane. Last time we were lucky to get out in, relatively, one piece. We need to find another solution," Gene said as he ignored Masako's confused frown.

"I still agree with Gene's solution. We need to find a way out," Mai said as she looked into Naru's eyes. "I don't care if we have to swim out of here. We need to leave."

Naru's eyes flickered to Mai's injuries as his frown returned. Mai sighed as she realized that Naru blamed himself. She would have to talk to him about it soon.

Gene stood and looked out the window. The rain had yet to stop as the water continued to flood the area. He pursed his lips when he saw that the water had already reached the first steps of the manor. "Well walking out is out of the question."

Masako stood and made her way to the window as well. Her eyes scanned the area as she placed a hand on the cold window.

"I'm scared." Mai whispered as Naru turned to look at her. He then tightened his hold on her hand before letting go. Mai was about to protest at the removal of his warmth, when he wrapped his arm around her shoulders. He gently pulled her to his chest and tucked her head under his chin. Mai blushed as she wrapped her arms around him.

She pressed a soft kiss on his chin. His breath hitched as he looked down and pressed a loving kiss on her forehead.

"I love you," she confessed again. Her heart was bursting with her love for him, and she only wished that this case was over soon. They had so much that they had to talk about, and she worried that they were running out of time.

"There's something out there," Gene said as he and Masako tensed. Mai and Naru stood and made their way to the window. True enough, a large figure was hunched over the water. It was incredibly large and dark. It disappeared inside the water.

Mai shivered as she recalled their last case. Her leg injury hadn't completely healed yet.

"There goes our swimming plan," Gene tried joking. Masako glared at him as she turned back to the flooded area.

"We should check if we can find something. I mean surely they have something that floats just in case," Mai suggested as Gene nodded in agreement.

"Or we could find a way to exorcise the demon. We shouldn't waste our precious time like that," Masako argued. Mai knew she had a point, but it still pissed her off that Masako wasn't even considering it. "Though we don't really need to be together all the time."

Mai growled at the implications. "And do what exactly? Split up? How convenient don't you think? You know that Gene and I can't be separated, so that would lead you with Naru!"

"Well we are the smartest ones here," Masako offended her as Mai and Gene bristled at the insult.

"Says who?" Mai asked in irritation. Perhaps Masako was smarter than her, but she doubted that she was smarter than Gene.

Masako ignored her as she turned to Naru and smiled. Mai scowled. Clearly Masako's depression hadn't lasted long. To think she actually felt bad for the medium. She should have known that Masako wouldn't give up on Naru that easily.

"We will not separate," Naru interjected and Mai smirked victoriously. "Though Miss Hara did bring up a fair point. We need a plan."

"Why not just plan it together while we look around?" Gene asked. Naru conceded as Mai and Masako glared at each other.

"Or we could just ask Mr. Kane and save us the trouble," Masako suggested.

"I don't think…we should," Mai started. Seeing Masako's expectant glance, she continued. "My gut says that we can't trust him and that we should leave before he notices we're gone."

Masako nodded in acceptance. Naru grabbed a book on exorcisms and placed it on Gene's hands. Gene raised an eyebrow but followed behind his brother. He clutched the book tightly understanding his silent request. Worst case scenario, Gene would have to perform his first exorcism against a demon.

000000000000000000

They had searched various storage rooms, the attic and the basement. However, they hadn't found anything that they could use. Instead, they found spider webs, rats, more spider webs and dust. Gene's eyes widened when they were in the attic. He was looking out a tiny window.

"We should look in the shed!" He exclaimed as he realized that the house had one. He briefly wondered why their client hadn't mentioned it before.

"You're a genius Gene!" Mai exclaimed happily as Gene smiled at her eagerness. He ignored Noll's glare as he took the compliment.

Naru took the lead and opened the back door quietly. He looked around carefully and motioned them to follow. They all wore their raincoats and quietly went out to the storage room. "It's locked," Gene said as he held the lock in his hand.

Naru and Gene exchanged glances. Soon Naru unleashed some PK and shattered the lock. Mai clapped her hands eagerly as she gave her boyfriend a wide grin. "That's right! Naru's the best!" He showed no outwards reaction, but Mai could see that his ears took on a pink hue.

Once they opened it, Mai smiled as they saw two small canoes. They walked in quickly and purposely. Naru searched for rowing paddles as Gene looked over the canoes for any holes. Masako was at the door making sure nobody saw them as Mai helped Gene pull a canoe.

"Someone's coming," Masako whispered as she closed the door and backed away to be close to the twins. Soon, the door was brusquely pushed open by none other than their client.

"Going somewhere?" He asked as some of his servants stood behind him, preventing their escape.

Mai and Masako held each other as Gene and Naru took protective stances in front of them. Naru's calculating eyes took in the quantity of people in there, likely debating how to use his PK without causing the whole building to fall over them. If he hit one person at a time, it would take him to long to recharge and hit again.

"Our apologies, we were merely exploring. We thought we saw something paranormal here. We just wanted to take care of it. I mean, that is what you hired us for, after all," Gene lied smoothly.

Their client's frown disappeared as he gave them one of his usual smile. "Yes, of course, my apologies. I just assumed…did you take care of it?"

Mai and Masako exchanged glances. Now they knew that they really needed to leave as quickly as possible. They didn't know who was more dangerous, Mr. Kane or the demon.