Disclaimer: I don't own Ghost hunt, the Anime nor the Manga

Chapter 7: Case 1

Chapter 7

It was cloudy, a bit foggy, and the air smelled of fresh fallen rain. The group stood a few paces behind and waited in silence. The priestess had her hand on the bark of a large tree at the forest's entrance. Once she was finished, she stepped backward, and picked up the bottle of sake. She poured it around the tree she was just so gently leaned against. Ayako grabbed the branch she'd chosen for her ritual, which was adorned in red ribbon attached to a single golden bell.

She bent downward and placed it into the soil.

"Let's begin." Ayako voiced placing her hand in the sign of the sword; she began her incantation.

"I stand here today to beseech the gods. I call upon them to come down from the heavens and join us where no Gods dwell; to end this ceaseless suffering. I ask that my humble plea may be heard and that peace be restored unto the spirits that are trapped in this haunted place. May this forest reflect the high heavenly plain, and may the gods from all corners come together as one.

Rin

Ring!

Pyo

Ring!

Tou

Ring!

Shah

Ring!

Kai

Ring!

Jin

Ring!

Retsu

Ring!

Sai

Ring!

Zen

With every chant of the nine cuts, the bell would bounce and sing, according to Ayako's will. Just as she completed the incantations white misted figures began to appear from the surrounding trees. Their pacing was elegant and regal, as they came forward adorned in extravagant kimonos and long beards. They approached Ayako and surrounded her as if offered a greeting. Then their essence dissipated into the branch, each spirit making the bell ring out once more.

Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring! Ring!

A parade of small spirits came forth from the forest, the two nuns bringing up the rear and the air became marginally colder. It was a sad and beautiful sight to see just how young some of these girls were as they came closer to group to be cleansed.

"Come, the time for you to achieve eternal sleep has finally arrived." Ayako bent down and retrieved the branch from the soil. She waved the branch gracefully in a spiritual dance, and the spirits began to be cleansed. With every ring all the spirits began to disappear, until only one remained. As this specter stepped further and further out of the forest it became devastating clear that this spirit was male. The further he stepped out, the clearer his handsome features became. The spirit who had appeared before them now was unmistakably Kageru Fujioka.

'Oh God, it's him.' Mai thought feeling her stomach drop and quickly losing herself in anxiety.

"Spirit of Kageru Fujioka, I ask you reconsider and find peace in your after life." Ayako spoke though Kageru's eyes only connected with Mai.

Mai backed up a pace and stood nearer to Monk.

"Priestess, I suggest you step aside, and give me the girl came for."

"I apologize, but she is of the living plane, and therefore I cannot allow that. Now I will not ask nicely again, find your peace and leave this place." Ayako boomed her voice echoing through the clearing.

"I won't ask again nicely either, give me the girl or I'll get violent." Kageru said his eyes meeting Ayako's for the first time, making her believe every bit of his words. Ayako then took her branch and placed it into the ground, then clapped her hands together releasing the bell, and thus the spirits of the girls.

"Wise decision, we won't want to lose all of those spirits in a skirmish with me." He mocked with his signature devilish grin.

"If you want Mai, you'll have to go through us!" Monk yelled and the evil spirit only started laughing manically.

"That can be arranged." Kageru replied and the ground began to shake violently.

"Ayako, move back!" Mai screamed and the priestess moved back just in time to evade a thorned vine breaching the ground where she once stood. The vines emerged, once after another, and began attacking the team with sharp lashes.

Mai was easily toppled by the shaking due to her injuries, while the others were able to keep their footing much better and began chanting as soon as Lin whistled.

"Our Father who art in heaven…"

" On biso hora daraki un hatta…"

"Rin!Pyo! Tou! Sha!..."

When one vine shriveled due to chanting another two would appear, and soon the entire team, save Mai, was entangled in their painful grasp, struggling, and bleeding.

"Did you think I was a fool? HA! True enough, I may now be weaker on the spiritual plane now, but I did countless satanic rituals both at the church and in my garden when I was alive. The devil himself granted me this power!" Shadow ranted at the team struggled, and Mai looked on in horror.

'Come on Mai, think. I have to do something!' Her mind raced desperately, but her body remained frozen in fear as Kageru slowly swaggered over to her. He paused purposefully in front of the two and kneeled down near her and Takigawa.

"Hmm… so if memory serves correctly; you're the one who plays guitar, am I right?" Kageru reached for Monk hands and pulled one of his fingers back until it made a painful snap.

"AAAAWWWWHHHHHH!" Monk screamed and Shadow looked at Mai still smirking.

"One."

Snap

"AAAAAGGGGHHHHHH!"

"Two."

"Stop! Please...just stop." Mai sobbed out tearfully grabbing his hand away from Kageru.

"Mai! Don't!" Lin yelled as a vine then found his way to his neck and proceeded to choke him.

"Anyone else want to interject?" Kageru asked with fake friendliness. Mai took this chance to crawl over to Lin and tried to pull the vines off of his neck without hurting him. Just as she freed him a vine grabbed her good leg and dragged her backwards into a tree.

Another two vines grabbed her wrists and secured them above her head. Kage walked over to meet her tutting his fingers.

"Why are you doing this? You already have everything you need, why come here?" Mai asked narrowing her eyes at him as he got closer.

"Now, Mai you know the price of answers, don't you?" Shadowed kneeled down and tilted her chin upward and forced his lips on hers.

Mai squirmed under him and moved away from him, her eyes angry. Suddenly the sound of energy crackling in the air was heard, making the pair turn toward the narcissist, who was beginning to surround himself with white hot energy.

"NARU! DON'T!" Mai implored knowing all too well how this would end for the scientist.

"No, by all means do. Since you and I know that you couldn't with me so close to Mai." Kageru sneered cockily.

'Shit. He caught my bluff.' Naru thought begrudgingly.

"Noll, Let him take her! I'm ready on my end."

"Gene?"

"Who else dummy?"

"Alright, but you'd better not lose."

"You mean like you just did?" Noll could hear his brother chuckle.

"Now is not the-"

"I know Noll, I'll bring her back to you." And with that Naru could feel his link disconnecting. He brought his full attention to the situation in front of himself and wondered how he's get Mai to her astral plane.

"Now, back to business. Mai, my sweet hummingbird, do you admit defeat?" Fujioka mocked tracing his fingers over her lips and Mai backed away as much the unforgiving tree behind her would allow.

Mai looked at her struggling friends and then back her astral parasite.

"Y-yes, I do, just please stop hurting them." Mai said her voice cracking her head hung low in submission.

"That's a good girl. Now, I'll give you five minutes before I call you to the spirit plane. Don't keep me waiting." He said and like that he disappeared like a puff of smoke. Just as he left so did the vines hold on the team, and in their places were pieces of paper. Ayako, the closest to Mai was the first to catch herself and run over to her to fuss over her. Naru pushed aside Ayako and Masako, in order to get to Mai.

"Mai, we don't have a lot of time, you need to get to the spiritual plane as soon as possible. I have Gene on standby to help you. You have to find your spiritual link, and keep it away from Kageru. Do you understand me, Mai?" Naru said and Mai's eyes widened.

'Just when I was ready to give up, he gives me hope. He still hasn't given up on me.' Mai nodded a smile finding its way to her face.

"Naru, I'm a little scared." She confessed looking into his eyes for reassurance.

"Kick some butt Mai!" Yasu said with a weak smile.

"Go get him Mai!" Monk said trying to smile as he held his hand tenderly.

"Come back to us Mai." Ayako said tearfully.

"Fight hard Mai." Lin said with a nod.

"Believe in yourself Mai." Masako said with a small smile.

"You got this Mai." John said with a bright smile.

"Come back to us idiot." Naru said placing a hand on her shoulder getting her to finally smile. Mai nodded her understanding and felt a pinch on her neck, and then her world fell into darkness.

When Mai opened her eyes she was laying on the ground on her spiritual plane, and thankfully in the clothes she remembering putting on this morning. She rose from her spot on the grass and the sight that met her definitely wasn't what she was expecting.

'What the hell happened?'

If weather was possible on the spiritual plane Mai would have said a tornado went through the garden. The fountain was broken in a thousand pieces and the water was running onto the ground creating a mud puddle. The gazebo and rose bushes were in much the same position except they were both consumed in flames. The place looked like a complete mess, but Mai didn't have time to contemplate its happenings.

'Stay focused, need to find my spiritual link.' Mai thought as her eyes frantically search her surroundings.

"Yo." Mai heard behind her and she froze her heart beating quickly becoming erratic. She turned slowly and cautiously afraid to let her hopes up.

"Gene?" Mai said tears filling her eyes for the millionth time that day.

"The one and only." He said before he was tackled with two arms around his neck. He held her waist and let her find a few moments of comfort.

"I'm glad Naru sent you. I wish we had more time to chat, but as I'm sure you realize we're short on time here. I've got to find my spiritual link." Mai said releasing Gene from her hold and began to look around frantically once more.

"Okay, that's easy." Mai spun around and gave him a hopeful look.

"You know where it is and what it looks like?" Mai asked.

"I sure do."

"Well spit it out!" Mai yelled frustrated with guessing games.

"It's about 5'11, with luscious black locks, and the dreamiest indigo eyes." Gene said wiggling her eyebrows at her making her sweat drop.

"Wait, you're my spiritual link?"

"Guilty as charged." Mai sighed a bit relief mentally checking that off her list.

"Okay now all we have to do is keep you away Kageru, and somehow exorcise him. I'd be easier to hide you if this place wasn't a complete wreck." Mai stressed.

"Oh sorry about that, it seemed like a good idea at the time." Gene said scratching the back of his head in embarrassment.

"Okay, we can't worry about that we have to get you somewhere safe before he finds you."

"Well hummingbird, I do believe you're a bit late for that last bit."

'Oh no.' Mai turned around to see Kageru on the step of the gazebo his eyes looking sharp and deadly.

"You're here early Mai," Kageru let his eyes briefly look over at Gene. "…and you brought company." He said with obvious disgust.

"Alright Mai, believe in yourself and remember he's weaker than you are now. Don't let him scare you. We're on your sprit plane, imagine it and it's real here." Gene said next to her. Suddenly Gene was yanked from her side, and Mai looked over at Shadow who was currently wielding a rope in one hand and a sword in the other, and began yanking Gene in.

'Quick got to cut the rope.' Mai imagined an axe into her hand and ran over to Gene and the cut the Gene free and he gave a relieved smile. Suddenly he was being pulled over to Kageru again once again, but this time a steel chain was yanking him. Mai quickly imagined a guillotine blade that fell from the sky with a large clunk, chopping the steel chain. Kageru quickly adjusted and took off spiriting with his sword.

'Not going to make it over there.' Mai thought desperately.

"Gene, hold your hands out!" Mai yelled and he was given a sword and shield just in time to block Kage's advance.

'Got to contain him somehow he's too hard to predict. But with what…' Mai thought desperately combing her mind for answers.

"Hey, Mai! Need a little help here!" Gene yelled who was clearly losing in the sword fight she though would buy her sometime.

"Coming right up!" Mai imagined a large dirt wall between the two of them. Gene visual breathed a sigh of relief as he backed away and jogged over to Mai throwing the weapons aside.

"Y-you *huff* could have *huff* imagined lighter *huff huff* weapons?" Gene asked questioningly.

"Well excuse me for thinking quickly and saving both of our butts! Besides I didn't know you could even get tired." Mai said when Kageru's foot kicked through the wall with ease, and he came out the other side with a bow and arrow. He wordlessly began shooting over at the two. Gene quickly grabbed his shield and ran to get some distance between them.

"AWWWWGHHHH!" Gene looked down and he'd been shot in both of his legs, that which the shield did not cover. He looked over at

Mai who was shot in the shoulder and they both tumbled over barely moving.

'Crap, don't tell me this is all the fight I have.' Mai thought when suddenly an idea hit her like a ton of bricks. She didn't have much time since Shadow was making their way over to them with a chain saw. From the sky a golden bird cage came down around Kageru and though surprised at first, he laughed. Without hesitation, he quickly took the chainsaw to the bars with no avail.

'Fine, then how about an axe.' Kage imagined.

Nothing.

' A sword.'

Nothing.

'A damn SHOVEL.'

Nothing.

"Mai! LET ME OUT!" Kageru screamed violently banging on the bars like a wild animal. Gene looked over to a grinning Mai who slowly rose holding her shoulder and paced over to the cage.

"Who's the hummingbird now." Mai said laughing weakly as the pain in her shoulder increased.

"Let me out, Mai! Don't you see how much I love you! I could have killed you like all those other women, but I knew just how special you were. After I ended him, we were going to spend an eternity together in this garden. How could you reject me after all that I went through to get to you?!" Kageru voiced clearly falling apart at the seams, his eyes and hair wild as his emotions.

"Ha, if I was the type of girl to fall for a pretty face, I'd wouldn't have made it this far! Kageru Fujioka, it's time you were permanently removed from the living and spiritual worlds. You've killed so many mercilessly and it's time for you to atone for your sins. I wish that you weren't beyond cleansing, but my intuition tells me otherwise." Mai said her eyes and tone serious.

"Ha, as if you can talk! I looked through all your memories while I was here, and you're a murderer just like me! That's what made you perfect for me! That's what I loved most about you!"

"DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE YOURSELF TO HER!" Gene yelled surprising them both.

"Mai is different from you; she will never be like you. She has been through hell and maintains one of the purest hearts I've ever known. That… THAT makes her better than you. So don't you dare." Gene reprimanded, he and Kageru stood in a continued heated exchange. Kage finally losing it began screaming and banging on the bars like a mad man.

"It's no use, I made these bars to cancel out all your power, and make it impossible to escape. So, goodbye."

"Mai, please don't do this. I really do love you." Kageru pleaded tears welling up in his eyes. Mai hesitated and stared straight on. Mai turned from the cage and ran to a grounded Gene and imagined away the arrows and his wounds.

"Rin! Pyou! Tou! Shah! Kai! Jin! Retsu! Zai! ZEN!" With that a great evil was removed from both the spiritual plane and the world of the living.

Mai stared long and hard at the cage and exhaled slowly.

Pain tore her away from her thoughts. She tried to use her spiritual power to heal her arm, but it's seemed that Kageru knew he might lose. The arrow was inches away from making sure she'd never return to living plane.

"You did good Mai." Was all Gene said noticing the arrow still in her arm.

"He probably made it to kill me on my human plane, it won't go away." Mai said and Gene nodded understanding her predicament.

"Good thing you know a pretty good doctor." Gene joked, but Mai did not react. The silence between them grew and he had a sneaking suspicion as to why.

"Y-ou know what I did? You saw what happened ?" Mai asked nervously her pain coming second to the conversation between the two.

"Yes, I'm your spirit guide. I'm supposed to know everything about you, so naturally I'd be informed about what happened." Gene confessed and Mai laughed humorlessly. Now wasn't the time to bring back her trauma, but it ironically felt relieving for someone to know her in this way.

"Thank you for saying those things about me, it meant a lot." Mai replied blushing a bit before wincing once again from the ache in her shoulder demanding attention.

"Alright, that's enough of the mushy stuff. I'm sending you back, that shoulder's looking pretty bad." Gene admitted and Mai could feel him floated further away from him.

And with that Mai was on her way back.

She had survived.

I must have rewritten this chap five times, but here it is. Thank you to all my new follows & favorites! To my personal favorite that you to all the reviewers. I'll update soon !