A/N: Oh, finally! The last chapter of the last case! The main story is nearing its end! I thought I'd update 5 days later but I've watched a touching drama and got some inspiration. Haha. Please enjoy this chapter and comment down what you think! This chapter drained all of my brain juice. Haha. I will be waiting for your feedback!
Up Next:
FINAL ARC: Memoir of the Forgotten Music Box
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Ghost Hunt.
[Not Edited]
"...hik...hik...Mai!...Mai..Please..."
Mai frowned at the noise. She was so tired. Her whole being is full of ache and her energy is slowly draining. She's a bit annoyed by the crying sound. Her head is pounding hard and the cries are just torturing her head and mentality. Mai forced herself to to sit and looked around her in search for the crying sound. But before she even found that sound, she was stunned by the liquid lying underneath her.It was just like her vision.
There are little pieces of meat mixed with blood and the room is full of it. Mai covered her mouth together with her nose. She turned around and saw Masako's shaking back. She keeps on calling her name while crying. Mai noticed that the blood is not touching her so she can only conclude that she's currently astral projecting.She stood up and went to the medium's side. There she saw her body lying in front of her. Mai's body is so much pale than usual. That only means that her energy is nearing it's limit. She don't know how long they are in this execution room but she has so far them out of here before the barrier around them collapse. It would be trouble if the barrier collapsed.
"Masako! Hey, can you hear me?" Mai said to her friend but the medium cannot seem to see or hear her. She was just there, crying in worry.
"Strange. Isn't she a medium? Why can't she see me?" Mai mumbled and called out again but this time, her hand touch the medium's shoulder.
"Who's there?!" Masako quickly asked as she threw herself at the sleeping Mai, protecting the brunette. Masako's scared but she still went up front and protect her. Mai pursed her lips, touched.
"Mai!" A familiar voice called out and Mai almost cried when she saw Gene walking towards her.
"Mr. Guardian! What's happening?! Why can't see me?" Mai asked as she tried to hold Masako but stopped seeing the scared medium's face.
"It's because you are not in the same wavelength." Gene answered as he held Mai's shoulders. He can also see the energy leaving Mai's body. She needed to contact Naru and show them the way before Urado attacks them.
"Mai. Listen closely. Close your eyes. Imagine that there is a thin thread coming from Hara-san. Breath slowly and focused.
"Mai did what Gene instructed her to do. She calmed herself down and took several deep breaths. She imagined what Gene described. She could not see anything at first but a strange white light surrounded Masako's frame for a moment. A thin thread appeared from behind and before she could even think, she grabbed it.
"Mai? I-Is that you?" Mai snapped her eyes open at the mention of her name. Masako entered her sight the moment she opened her eyes. The medium's tears overflowed when she saw her friend.
"...hik..Mai.. It's my fault. If not for me, you wouldn't have die—"
"Hey! I'm not dead yet!" Mai scolded her friend and smack her but her hand just went through the medium's body.
"B-but—!"
"Go feel my pulse, it's still there." Mai cut her as she pointed at her body's wrist. Masako did as Mai said and was relieved when she felt her steady pulse.
"See? I'm alive. Listen, Masako, we are going to leave this place alive. I'm sure Naru and the others are breaking their way in to save us. Dry up your tears, okay?" Mai coax her. Masako nodded and wiped the tears on her eyes. She held Mai's body tightly and look around. It's dark and she couldn't see anything. But she can feel a malicious being in the same room as them.
"Masako, I'm going to leave you for a while. I'll lead the others here, okay?"
"B-but Mai, I'm...I'm scared. I don't want to be alone.. I...I..." Masako's eyes started tearing again. Mai tried to hug her but her arms just went through.
"Shhh. Don't cry. Don't cry. Don't worry I will be very quick and come back. And I'm leaving you here alone. Mr. Guardian!" Mai called out for Gene and the young man appeared beside her. Masako widened her eyes in shock to see the same face of the young CEO. She knew that Naru is looking for his twin but she never expected them to look very very similar.
"This is Gene, and as you have noticed, he's Naru's twin. He will be with until I came back. The barrier around will protect us from Urado for a while. Don't worry, okay? We will live." Mai assured her as she rummage through her pocket, forgetting that she's still in her spirit form.
She brought out a key and gave it to Masako. She was busy trying to comfort the girl that she didn't see Gene's bewildered expression.
"This is the key of the house my family previously lived on. That is the place I was born. I don't remember living there but my mother would keep this as a charm. She held it very dear and now she gave it to me. Hold unto this and remember this promise. I promise that we will all leave this place alive. All our friends will escape this place. Okay? I'll treat you something once we get out of here. Hhm?"
"O-Okay. I'll wait. We will live. Okay." Masako answered and calm herself. She held unto the key that Mai gave her and repeatedly nodded.
"Good girl. Close your eyes and don't open them until I'm back. No matter what you hear and feel, don't open them. Talk to Mr. Guard— Gene if you're scared. He will answer. I will be back." Mai said and stood up. She look at Gene and nodded.She ran away passing through wall to wall.
She can see the will-o'-the-wisps around the place. They are scattered around the mansion and they're too many to count. She gasped at the sight of Atsugi-san and Suzuki-san's body piled up in one corner of the room beside the execution room. They are covered in blood and their heads are separated from their bodies. Mai run towards the other room and saw a set of skeletons arranged in shelves. The whole room is full of shelves fill with skeletons. They were shown like trophies that was worth bragging.
"Those demons!"
Anger bubbled inside Mai's heart. She couldn't believe what she just saw. She suppressed his anger and passed through walls again. She looks around to search for Naru and the group. At a distance, she saw them tearing down a wall. She run towards them, ignoring the pain in her head. Using the same trick she used in Masako, she pulled all the threads she saw coming from their bodies and called out in a very loud voice.
"NARU!"
"I-Im sorry! I'm so sorry! I couldn't—"
"Shut up!" Naru yell at the three while they apologize to him. He's very angry. Not just at his exorcists but also on himself. He shouldn't left her!
"Naru, calm yourself." Naru felt a tap on his shoulders as Lin's face entered his sight.
The rattling of the furnitures stopped as he took a deep breath. He proceed on analyzing the situation. The others were attack while they were with Ohashi-san. The three exorcists also witnessed the girls passing through the walls and it was no doubt that Urado kidnapped them. That means their live, wherever they are, are in danger.
"We will tear down the wall nearest to the center of the black space in the blueprint. We will enter the space and rescue them. We need to hurry before one or both of them get in danger. Get the tools we borrowed from Ohashi-san and start the work."
They immediately went to the west where they found the corpses. They continue to make holes and they didn't give up even if they're tired. Lin was also making sure Naru didn't use his PK to quicken their pace. When they were on their third wall, they heard a very familiar voice calling out for their boss.
"NARU!"
"Mai?!" The SPR exclaimed as they saw Mai's almost transparent form running towards them. Seeing her transparent form, Ayako almost faint at the sight. Their eyes reddened at the sight. Naru almost couldn't control himself.
"Naru! Guys!" Mai's scream woke them up completely.
"M-Mai. What happened?! A-are you dea—"
"Shut up! I'm not dead yet but I will be if you don't hurry up! Geez! Why do all of you think that I'm dead?!" Mai grumbled as she stopped in front of Naru.
Mai saw the relieved look in his eyes. She didn't fail to notice the pain and his red-rimmed eyes. Naru went to hug her but he just went through her body. She turned around to face him and smiled. She was happy to see him again. She smiled at her friends and pointed at the wall on their right.
"I'm astral projecting. That wall I'd a bit thick but behind that wall is the hallway towards the maze. Follow that maze and you'll arrive at a small house. On the second floor, you will find the execution room. We are there. We'll try to escape and meet with you."
"Mai, what about Masako?" Ayako asked, her face etched with worry. Bou-san also wanted to hug her but she's in her spirit form.
"And don't worry about Masako and my body. Mr. Guardian is there to protect us. Be quick!" Mai said and was about to go back to Masako after she saw them nod but Naru called out to her.
"Mai, be alive when I get there."
"Yeah. I promise. Be careful. I will be waiting for you!" Mai answered and disappear from their sight.
"That almost got me. I thought she's really dead when she appeared to us as a spirit." Bou-san said and let out a sigh of relief.
Bou-san went to the wall and started breaking it. John and Lin followed him and Naru, who is not a manual worker, also picked up the tool and joined them. Ayako waited and held unto the flashlight for them. They saw a hallway when they break in, just like Mai had said. They followed the hallways and arrived at a maze after opening the door.
"This must be the maze Mai is talking about." Bou-san commented as he light his surroundings.
Walking on the gravel path, they found a door ahead of them. The smell of blood and decomposition are getting more disgusting as they rush towards the door. It's locked but Bou-san easily broke the lock with the axe he got. The chains and lock are also old so it's easy to destroy.
They opened the door and the smell of rotting and blood intensified. Their heart beats faster at the thought of the girls being in danger. They all wishes that the blood they are smelling are not theirs. Mai said that they're on the second floor so they frantically search for stairs that lead upstairs.
"Aaah!" John yelled to them as the others went to her side. In front of the priest is a glowing version of their boss.
"Gene!"
"Naru! Hurry! They're trapped in the room! Urado is there!" The spirit brother worriedly said to him and pointed at the door on the middle of the first floor. Naru hurriedly opened the door and they saw a staircase going to the second floor.
'Please be okay.'
Mai woke up. She saw Masako still closing her eyes as Gene sat beside her. Gene stopped talking to Masako and smiled at her. Mai sat up and held Masako's shoulder. The medium flinched but Mai sooth her.
"Masako, it's me. I'm back."
"Mai?"
"Yes, I'm back." Mai smiled at the medium who opened her eyes. She pulled her friend into a hug and smiled gratefully at Gene.
"Masako, they are currently coming to rescue us. Be brave and don't cry. We'll escape this place and meet with them."
"But Mai, they're here! Urado and his two underlings are here " Masako whispered while shaking.
"Don't worry. Don't worry. As long as the barrier is still up, they couldn't harm us." Mai said as she held Masako up. She held her hand tightly and nodded at Gene.
"They arrived at the maze. They're near." Gene said to her and look behind them. Mai felt a shiver running through her spine as she look at where Gene is looking.
'The bathtub..'
She pulled Masako to her chest, not letting her see anything. Mai felt an intense malicious aura directed towards them. She heard a tapping sound coming from the bathtub seconded by bubbling and splashing sounds. Mai tightened her hold on Masako while they slowly stepped back, heading towards the exit. A human head slowly emerged from the bathtub full of blood.
"M-Mai?"
"Shhh. Close you eyes and let me drag you, okay? Don't be scared."
"Mai.." Masako cried and held unto Mai's clothes. She was scared and felt useless. She wanted to get out of this nightmare.
The disfigured face that emerged from the blood is looking at them with greed. It slowly stood up while looking at them with a cold and creepy smile on his lips. Mai began chanting while moving backwards towards the door. Two men abruptly appeared in front of them but Mai continued chanting. But because she's weak and her energy is draining because of the barrier, it was not that effective on those evil spirits.
Mai tried to open the door when they reached it but it wouldn't even move. Mai was sure this isn't locked but chains of anything! Mai chant again but it wouldn't budge. She gritted her teeth and glared at her enemies. Urado stepped forward, leaving a trail of bloodied footsteps behind him. Mai pretended to be strong while looking at Gene, signalling him to go to Naru. Gene nodded and disappeared.
Mai was relieved but by the time she faced forward, she was met with Urado's vicious countenance. She gasped in surprise as she held Masako tighter. She refused to relax her grip, fearing that they will snatch her friend away. Mai didn't avert her gaze from the monsters. The smell of blood and rotting is coming from his body.
"I don't want to die." Mai heard him say. She glared at him, feeling no pity for the man. She understands that he's sick since young age and he wanted to live but it doesn't mean he's allowed to take human lives. Mai quickly moved her hand and bit her finger. She wrote ancient Chinese characters on her palm with her blood.
"...This blood, I offer it to you... Use this sacrifice...and punish the all evil in front of me!..." Mai struggled to speak out her chant. She completed writing the characters and activated her spell.
The light came shining from her hand flashed towards Urado and his two attendants. They screamed and they fall back. The attendants vanished but Urado just feel down. Mai cursed and opened the door. Even with the strongest speel she had, she still couldn't destroy Urado. She dragged Masako as they ran towards the staircase. They can hear Naru and the others.
"Run!" Mai pushed Masako forwards and let her reach the stairs first. Masako reached the stairs and saw Naru and the others downstairs. Gene is also with them.
"Masako!" Ayako yelled, face full of relief.
"Ayako! Guys! Naru!" Masako called out while crying. She spread her arms and hugged Ayako that is waiting for her.
"...Begone!..." They heard Mai scream followed by bright light coming from the hallway in the second floor.
"Mai!"
"I'm alright. Urado is still here. Be careful!" Mai's voice responded to them as she appeared. She rushed down the stairs but her face is pale and there is blood dripping down her mouth.
"Mai, you—"
"I said I'm fine! Let's get out of here before—"
They heard a yell coming from the second floor. It's from Urado. The smell of blood permeated the whole house they're in. They can hear wet footsteps and they saw Urado's thin figure from above. Before anyone react, a whistle and a comet-like light rushed through Urado's heart and pierce it.
"Let's go!" Lin yelled and lead the group out of the cottage. They run away and went to the south, not following back the path they previously took. When Naru and Lin made sure that they followed the planned escape route, they noises and pointed at the window.
"Quick! Get out through that window!"
Bam!
"Ha...ha...ha...ha..."
"Ha...ha...I...I'm beat...ha...ha..."
"Oh, I'm glad you two are okay. You almost gave me a heart attack." Ayako said and hugged the two girls tightly. They are now outside the house and they're safe.
"Yeah." Mai answered while smiling as Masako cried. They were really scared. Mai's trembling arms wrapped around Ayako's neck and breath a sigh of relief.
"I'm glad you two are okay." Bou-san said with a smile. John also came to them and pat their shoulders in comfort. He, too, were worried back there. He keeps on praying for their safety while finding their way to them.
"Hey, guys!" Madoka and Yasu's calls ended the crying drama. They saw both if th getting out of the rented car and running towards them. They didn't get a call from Lin or Naru after a few hours so they hurried drove to the mansion.
"Mai! Masako!" Yasu yelled and checked the two of them. When they received a message if the two's disappearance, the two of them almost went crazy with worry.
"We're okay. Yasu, we're alive!— ouch! What the he is wrong with you?!" Mai grumbled while rubbing the part where Yasu smacked.
"What on earth are you doing, letting a don capture you?! Da-ge would curse me for real is you landed in the hospital again! You Dummy!" Yasu berated his best friend and he repeatedly hit Mai's shoulders.
"Ouch! I'm weak but I don't need hospital! Ouch! Yasu, stop this! I'm not the only one captured!" Mai complained, making Yasu turned to tear-stained Masako. Instead of a slap like what he did to Mai, he only flick the medium's forehead.
"You silly!"
"Hey, that's unfair! You beat me so much but you only flicked her head?!"
"Well, she's delicate!"
"And am I not delicate?!"
The SPR watched Yasu and Mai argue. It's the first time they saw the two of them bickering— an activity usually done by Ayako and Bou-san. The doors are locked from the inside so they waited for the staff to open it up. It's still dawn so they just sat on the grass and watch the Yasu and Mai's live debate until their topic went from safety to history. The two topic is unrelated, of course, but their argument just went from here to there.
"...ha...ha...ha... I'm done... I can't beat Mai in history...ha...ha..."
"Ha...ha...ha... Who's the dummy now?!...ha...ha.." The two of them glared while panting.
"Well, I was wondering. Lin-san!" Bou-san changed the topic and snapped his head towards Lin.
"What was the thing you threw at Urado?"
"That was my shiki."
"Shiki?" John asked them.
"Chinese Taoists captured monsters and spirits by controlling them. The technique is called Spirit Control. The spirits used by Lin is called Shiki." Bou-exolained as John nodded in understanding.
"Whoa! Lin's amazing!" Yasu also applauded. Masako brought out something from her pocket and went to Mai. In her palm was the key she gave her before.
"See? I promised you that we'll get out of there alive." Mai smiled and accepted the key but before she put it away, she suddenly realise something.
"Aaah! No way!" Mai screamed. The others asked what's wrong but she couldn't answer properly. Masako told them what happens and all of them are looking at Mai, astonished.
"Is she some kind of alien or what? You sure it's true, Masako?"
"Yes. I saw it with my own eyes. Eugene-san is also there." Masako answered.
"That reminds me. Where is your brother?" Ayako asked Naru.
"He used so much energy so he went to rest." Naru answered while looking at Mai. When the sun came out, Naru stood up from his seat. Something fall out from jacket.
"Naru, why do you have a comb?" Ayako asked as she picked out the item from the grassy ground. Naru showed a surprised expression before going back to normal.
"T-that's mine." Masako said as she picked the comb from Ayako's palm. Mai whipped her head and look disdainfully at the comb. She also saw it falling from Naru's jacket but she couldn't believe he had Masako's things.
"Why...do you have Masako's comb, Naru?" Mai asked. Her voice is normal but her face is not. If Naru had seen her, he would've noticed something. As usual, Naru didn't answer.
"Hey, answer me!"
"Psychometry. I used it to check whether you're still alive." Naru answered nonchalantly while walking towards the entrance.
"What?!"
"Don't make it a big deal, Mai." Naru answered making Mai fumed even more. The SPR watched with bated breath. Mai's reaction is truly unusual. Madoka tapped Lin and excitedly watched.
"Why does it have to be Masako's?" Mai asked making Naru turn around. he answered back but stopped as soon as he saw Mai's red and angry face.
"Because it's the first thing I foun—"
"Why didn't you use mine?!"
"That a confession, right?"
"Don't know."
The SPR heard the hawks passed by while making noise. They held their laugh while watching Mai's red face and Naru's astonished look. Naru is quick to analyze things but he was stumped by Mai's reply and his brain failed to function for a few moments.
"Mai, are you—"
"No! I don't want to talk!" Mai yelled and ran away. Her brain realized what she said and was embarrassed to face Naru. She felt stupid! She avoided Naru and stayed quiet in the corner.
Ohashi-san opened the front door and saw them waiting on the entrance. He was surprised but he soon knew what happened. He was thankful that the two girls are safe. Yasu told them what happened and also shared the location of the bodies with the help of Mai, who saw it during her astral travel. That very day, they left the castle and washed up in the hotel Madoka is staying in. They don't plan on staying at that mansion any longer.
"Mai, they're having breakfast below. Wanna join?" Ayako asked after they finished freshening up.
"No. I'm gonna rest for a while." Mai answered and went to to her bed. She's feeling very tired after using so much energy. Ayako saw her and mischievously smirked.
"Even if you avoid Naru after your 'confession', you can't avoid her tomorrow!"
"That's not a confession!"
"Heh. Come down when you're hungry!" Ayako said and went out. Masako is also there but before she follow Ayako, she genuinely smiled at Mai and held up a fist, showing her that she supported them.
"Go for it!"
Mai smiled back at her and nodded. She closed her eyes to rest. She never expected that a some walk through someone's memory lane would mess up everything in her life.