DISCLAIMER: All Ghost Hunt Characters belongs to Fuyumi Ono, I only own the plot and any future Original Characters.
Thank you and Enjoy!
WARNING: There might be a certain part of the story you might find uncomfortable, but it is not detailed as of yet.
"Shibuya-san…Sir, I think it would be best if John will be the one watching me; he knows me better—"
"John-san is better at protecting you, Mai. I'll be watching, end of discussion." Mai did nothing, she just took something out of her pocket and whispered something to John, which nodded and patted her head while looking at her with an understanding smile.
His hand clenched under the table while watching the scene in front of him, he knows that they can't be together, but he can't help his reaction. He softly sighed as he unclenched his hand, he watched the brunette moved to the team's sleeping quarters, moments later she went out, adjusting a black and gold bracelet.
"Ready when you are." Mai sat on the floor beside where Lin and the monitors are located.
"It would better if I'm closer." She mumbled and moved to a meditating position, relaxed her body, and closed her eyes.
Mai opened her eyes and she's standing in a forest; she looked around, trying to figure out how to connect this place to the building. She heard a twig snapped, she immediately tried to hide, still unsure if she's in a first-person point of view or just simply observing. It is still difficult for her to know the difference between the two, until she experiences what the spirit had experienced, until it was too late.
She peeked at the newcomer, while still hiding behind the tree, she tried to see anything significant to their case. Like the first vision she had in the car, she couldn't see the person, just a shadowy figure; she assumed that based on the build, the shadowy figure is a man. She saw the figure dragging a covered wheelbarrow, into the deeper part of the forest, she was about to follow when she saw a hand poking out the cover.
She took a deep breath and followed the figure; she thought the shadowy man was going to bury the body, but the vision shifted and saw a shack, where the man was heading. The man carried, now she knows a woman's body out of the wheelbarrow and went towards to the basement like entrance at the side of the shack.
Mai checked the wheelbarrow and saw a newspaper inside of it, 'September 17th ,1945'. She mentally took note of the date and walked towards the side basement. She was about to go inside when she heard sounds…sounds she never thought she would hear. It wasn't sound of pain or anguish but sounds of pleasure, the sound of the shadowy man moaning and obviously enjoying himself without any sound of the woman he took inside.
Just thinking about what is going on inside the basement made her sick inside, she wanted to vomit. She shallowed the lump in her throat, her vision was slowly shifting; faintly feeling herself laying down and something heavy above her when something pulled her away, she saw the dark void of the astral plane, and echoing around the void was a voice she thought was familiar.
"Not yet."
Mai opened her eyes and saw a pair of deep indigo eyes staring back at her, she saw concern flash in his eyes. He opened his mouth to talk but she raised her hand to stop him; she stood up and practically ran towards the bathroom. Mai is thankful that they have a bathroom inside the base, so she had no reason to go out with the possibility of being attacked.
Everyone just silently listened as Mai emptied her stomach in the bathroom, they are deeply concerned at what she saw in her projection. Was it bad enough to make her sick? Ayako and Takigawa wanted to get mad at Lin and Oliver but they knew that the two were right. They needed something to have a progress in the case and keep them safe. They just hate the fact that Mai has to be practically sacrificed for that, and they just simply accept that the girl they once knew and eager to help before was no longer there.
Mai put up her I'm-fine façade when she went out of the bathroom. As soon as she sat down, Madoka handed her a warm cup of tea to calm her down, she mumbled her thanks and took a breath to ready herself to recall the vision she had.
"The reason why we couldn't find anything before early 2000s was because nothing was built here before that." She closed her eyes as she fiddled with her fingers while telling her vision, knowing that both Lin and Oliver are listening to her.
"There was only a small shack that was built in the deep part of the forest, I'm guessing that it's around here or exactly where this building is. There are these small double doors on the side of the shack that leads underground, like a basement. I saw a newspaper that was dated during the end of World War 2; September 17, 1945 to be exact. That's most likely the underground place is for…a safe place for the war." She inhaled a shaky breath letting her eyes to remain closed. Oliver can see the small shake of her hands, he wanted to stop her, let her calm down first but they need the information as soon as possible.
"I saw this shadowy figure, mostly likely a man judging from the built, pulling this covered wheelbarrow towards the shack, there was a woman in that wheelbarrow. I'm not sure if she was unconscious or dead but the man took her inside the basement. Moments later…I…I heard the man's voice drowned in pleasure…his moans and groans are heard even if I was standing outside. I think the vision was about to shift into first-person point of view before I was pulled away and woke up." She finally opened her eyes and looked straight at her boss' deep dark eyes.
"If…if the vision that I had in the car on the way here is related, the man most likely likes his prey unconscious. I remember him saying 'Be a good girl or things will get nasty.' The man was probably into somnophilia or…God forbid, even necrophilia. I still need to go back there to know what caused the hauntings and why now."
"No need, Mai." Oliver said, almost softly that Mai thought her ears are playing tricks on her. "We have enough as of the moment." Mai knows that it's a lie, they barely have anything as of the moment, not only that they don't know who was haunting the place but why was it haunting it.
"As we all know, no one should be wandering alone. The men should keep an eye to the ladies as they may be targeted. John-san and Takigawa-san should guard Matsuzaki-san and Hara-san, both Lin and I shall guard Mai, as well as Madoka and Yasuhara-san while they are here." All of them just nodded, not even thinking about objecting his orders.
Oliver stood up and held his hand out towards Mai, she looked at him impassively, but curiosity is seen in her eyes.
"Let me take you to the sleeping quarters, you look like you could use some rest. You are as pale as a ghost." Feeling drained, she just took his hand and let him lead the way. Mai fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit her pillow, Oliver sat beside her sleeping bag and just watched her, barely acknowledging the notebook in his hand. He watched her chest rose and fell as she takes even breathes, his eyes wandered to her face, her lips slightly open, her long lashes, her slightly rosy cheeks, pointed nose and her waist length brown hair are spewed on her side. Four years can really change a lot about a person.
He slowly brushed the stray hair that was on her peaceful sleeping face, almost unconsciously, he softly caresses her cheeks, before regaining self-control and abruptly pulled away. He was about to stand up when something gently pulled the sleeves of his blazer, he looked down and saw Mai softly gripping his sleeve.
"Naru" she whispered in her sleep "Don't…leave." He thought he woke her up, but she didn't move, only a small frown changed in her sleep.
"Please" Another whisper then a tear fell from her closed eyes. This made him almost panic but tried to remain calm.
"Shhh" he cooed, removing the hand on his sleeve and held it gently.
"I'm here, Mai." The hand he is holding slightly tightened around his.
NOTE: I thought I might put a little NaruxMai scene, maybe just a taste of what is to come, and I know that Naru is a bit out of character.
I might take a while to upload next as I am trying to change and fix the plot of this story. I want to make things interesting for you as much as possible.
Let me know your thought by reviewing.
Thank you and Enjoy!