Chapter 26

Mai dropped Ayako's heavy bag into the girl's room with a thud, and let out a sound of relief.

The doctor set the bar for high maintenance; not even Masako packed this much and she was a celebrity. John was dropping things off across the hall in Lin and Naru's room. Now was a better time than any to take action on plan 'Mai-doesn't-need-her-necklace-charm'. Mai was no fool; she knew she couldn't just simply take it off and hope that no one would notice. Mai reached into her bag quickly, and took the key from her current apartment with Naru, which was luckily the same overall shape and color.

'Here it comes.' Mai reached around and took off her necklace and felt the instant influx of spiritual over load. She could feel herself swaying sideways and spots appearing in her vision, but she managed not to fall over. Once the initial sixth sense overload passed, she changed keys, and placed her charm into her own travel bag.

Mai could feel John across the hall, and her teammates in various locations around the home. Lucky for Mai their location was rural and remote. The perfect training ground away from the large number of auras that filled the city.

'Okay, I can do this. Instead of an hour I'll see how long I can take this.' Mai pepped herself up as she stood up.

"Mai, I'm all set over here. Are you ready to go to base?" John asked and Mai turned around quickly not too surprised since she felt his aura approaching her.

"Yeah, I'm right behind you." Mai responded dutifully.

Once the blonde and brunette returned to base, all the equipment had been brought in. Now it was simply a matter of putting it all together. Mai and John aided without being ordered to and base was done pretty quickly. After a few moments of merciful rest their boss was ready to dish out orders again.

"Monk and Ayako, I need temperatures of the house as well as the barn out back. Here is a miniature blueprint of the property that I would like you to list them onto. John and… Yasu take a minute from research and set up the cameras with John." Yasu nodded slowly a bit confused.

'Hmm… I wonder why he didn't ask Mai to do cameras?' Yasu thought keeping his probe to himself.

"Mai, you and I will be doing the walk through." He finished grabbing his black notebook and Mai only followed silently.

"Man, this is just so… UGH!" Monk cried out in frustration and Ayako gave him a confused look.

"Houshou, it's just temperatures. Nothing complicated has even happened yet. What is with you?" Ayako asked at her wits end with his mood.

"No, it's not that. It's just Mai has been so deflated, and it frustrates me that she is still hurting so much." He replied and Ayako's expression softened.

'He really does love her a lot. 'Ayako thought and sighed aloud.

"Keiko died last week and the funeral was yesterday. We can't expect too much from her now. Plus, she was still reeling from our last case when it happened. She's pretty damaged right now. I'm not sure why Naru let her come." Ayako said as the thermometer beeped and she wrote down some numbers.

"My thoughts exactly. He probably thought it was better than leaving her home alone to her own devices. At the same time, it's almost like she's not even here." He complained as he placed down the thermometer in the corner of the room.

"I know what you mean, but what else can we do but wait. We all have to be here for her no matter how long it takes for her to bounce back." Ayako said offering Monk a smile.

"Aren't you going to take off your necklace Mai?" Naru asked raising an eyebrow at Mai since they'd already been walking the property for a couple minutes.

'Shoot, I almost forgot.' Mai remembered she'd still had the fake charm around her neck. She was quick to remove it and placed it in her pocket. She was sure she aroused some suspicion from her boss but prayed he'd just chalk it up to her usual ditzy behavior.

"Well, do you feel anything?" Naru asked again moments later and Mai sighed.

"I do feel uneasy here, but I haven't encountered any aura in specific that can justify this feeling. I know better than to let my guard down though." Mai said as they continued to walk inside the house. They walked the entire house, and Mai continued to look around with still couldn't find any spirits.

"Umm… Naru."

"Yes, Mai."

"Can we walk outside? I think I'd have better luck if we do." Mai asked knowing that there wasn't much that this house would tell her.

'This house is a problem, but definitely not the source.' Mai thought to herself.

"What makes you think outside would be better?" Noll questioned her from a scientific perspective.

"Just animal instinct, I guess." Mai said and proceeded to head outside. It was a beautiful day, and the property was really a sight to behold. The green grass swayed in the warm breeze on a large plain that stretched far until another house in the far distance.

Mai closed her eyes and smiled, and allowed herself to drown in sensations. The feel of the sun on her skin, the light breeze that kissed her skin, and the smell of fresh air. All this brought her out of the dark place her mind had become, even just for a moment.

This property was stunning not just in the way it looked, but also how it made you feel.

"Do you sense anything?" Naru interrupted her zen moment.

"Are going to keep asking that?" Mai replied a bit annoyed finally reopening her eyes and scowling his way.

"We have been walking for twenty minutes, and you've been completely silent. I'm just assessing the situation since you claimed that being outside of the house would be better, but you seem to be unsuccessful." Naru commented folding his arms over his chest returning her attitude.

"I was just…" Mai sighed away from her frustration not wanting to lash out her pent-up anger.

"Forget it I don't sense anything, let's just go back to base." Mai said no longer wishing to be in anyone's company but her own.

"So you don't sense anything at all then?" Naru pushed knowing that he'd need to bring some kind of conclusion.

"No, something is here, but it isn't here right now. I was trying to find out where it comes from because it isn't the house. But… it's… I..." Mai spoke, but suddenly just stopped and walked away. She could hear Naru walking behind her so she decided the place her fake charm necklace back on to signal this session was over.

'I told him I'd be alright to be on a case, but that was before I found out about Kasai. Now I can't focus on anything else, but how angry I am at him. I'd be lying if I wasn't willing to admit that I'm a bit overwhelmed.' Mai could feel her eyes beginning to water out of frustration, but she held them back.

Mai and Naru returned both wearing similar frowns. Mai plopped herself into a chair by the window that overlooked the barn, and Naru returned to the monitors. Neither of them made any effort to greet anyone else in the room creating a tense atmosphere.

"So…. how was the walkthrough boss?" Yasuhara asked adjusting his glasses noticing the tense atmosphere that just accosted the base room.

"Mai said she didn't feel anything in the house, but the place gives her an uneasy feeling. She also said that if something is in the house it must come from outside." Naru shared while making a few notes in his notebook.

"Research has been a bit slow going since this house is relatively new. There was only one family who owned the place before the Kinjo's, and they spent thirty years here before moving out." Madoka chimed in from her seat next to Lin.

"Well for the first day we'll have to remain idle and simply continue to research and observe. The family still needs to be interviewed and further research needs to be conducted. For now, you are all are dismissed for lunch." Naru closed and took a seat by the monitors.

Mai continued to glance out the window and hoped the scenery would help to dull her boiling rage.

She realized that this family must be suffering at the hands of whatever was terrorizing them. Mai felt guilty that she wasn't giving this case her all.

'I should just put it aside for now. Kasai is far away from me and so is Keiko. I'll have to bide my time and wait until the time is right to address it.' Mai concluded as she got up from her perch by the window. All that chatter that was happening in base came to an immediate halt once she pushed he chair back loudly.

"Um… Mai?" John asked as she paced toward the door.

"I'm not hungry. I'll be in my room." Mai replied shortly and made her way to the door.

"Let me come with you." Madoka offered and Mai didn't even look her way.

"No, it's alright. I have my phone, so if you need me just call." Mai replied quietly and then was gone.

"Naru, do you think it's okay that she's alone. We still don't know very much about this place." Monk asked looking over at his boss who was still facing the monitors.

"We can keep an eye on her through the monitors as long as she doesn't leave the house. Give her some space." Naru replied with a hint of soberness in his tone.

The lady of the house brought up some bentos for the team and they enjoyed a light playful lunch together. It was nice, different without their little esper, but still nice. Not to mention that their hostess was a great cook. It wasn't long after they ate that their client's son and husband arrived and both came into their base room.

"Wow, I didn't expect there to be so many of you. Anyway, I'm Mr. Kinjo and this here is my son Kohaku. We are grateful for your help." Mr. Kinjo voiced and the two bowed.

"Pleased to meet you Mr. Kinjo. My name is Kazuya Shibuya and I own this company." Naru said noting the surprised expression of the two, but continued on and introduced each of the other members and their investigative roles.

"It's nice to meet all of you. Mr. Shibuya is there anything that you all need?" asked seemingly just as accommodating as his wife.

"Yes. I need to interview the two of you separately for your personal accounts. We'll need the records as evidence for your case." Naru continued.

"Ah yes. I'll let my son go grab something to eat, and I'll go first." He shooed his son away, who was barely there at all since he was so quiet, and took a seat.

"Ayako and Madoka, please retrieve Mai. Lin." Noll dispatched as the girls left and Lin approached the two by the coffee table with his laptop.

"Alright, Mr. Kinjo. Have you experienced anything in this home to make you believe that the problem is paranormal?" Naru asked.

"My wife has lived here all her life, but thinking back, in the beginning, nothing weird ever happened to her before. After our son was born things did seem different, but never anything this aggressive. It's only very recently as my son is getting older that the activity has escalated like this. I've heard whispers and seen things being knocked over all over the house. Sometimes I'll even get a terrifying pit feeling, but most of the activity seems to center around my son. I know more happens to him than what he's willing to let on. He likes to put on the tough guy act, but he's definitely shaken." Mr. Kinjo shared furrowing his eyebrows.

"I see. Do you think your son has done anything to provoke this haunting? Does he participate in any occult games or things of that nature?" Naru continued as he wrote down some details.

"You mean like a Ouija board or tarot cards? Nah, my son is more into outdoors and the animals like his mother. He's not really one to spend his time indoors doing that sort of thing. He never used to believe in ghosts either. I guess none of us did." Mr. Kinjo revealed the last bit of information with a dejected sigh.

"Has anything physical ever transpired here to you or your wife?" Naru questioned deeper.

"Not to me. I'm not sure about my wife though. I know she doesn't want to worry our son so she may keep things to herself like Kohaku." The husband replied firmly.

"I see. That concludes the information I wanted to ask you. Would you please retrieve your son?" Naru ended curtly.

'It's obvious the Kohaku is the one I need to question. I'd be wasting my time if I spent any more time with him since he seems the least affected.' The young scientist concluded as he watched the man making his exit.

Mai was lying on her back staring up at the ceiling. She was currently reaching her limit as exhaustion was making itself known in her bones. She could feel sweat pooling on her back. Mai focused on her breathing and emptying her mind of irrelevant thoughts. Just as she was able to regain some of her composure; the door opened up to reveal her roommates.

"Hey Mai. You up?" Ayako was the first to speak. Mai made no movement only sighed heavily.

"Yes." She replied shortly.

"Naru wants you back in base. Okay?" Ayako informed and sat at the edge of the bed.

"He could have just texted me, and I would have been there. Or called. He didn't have to send the two of you." Mai said only realizing afterward just how harsh her words must have come across.

'Man, I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want to be any more trouble to anyone.' Mai thought to herself but didn't say.

"Well, he sent us. So get up princess." Ayako joked, but Mai didn't smile only rose from her position robotically and walked straight towards the door without sparing the two women a glance. Madoka and Ayako shared a worried look but followed behind the girl none the less.

"OOUUFFF!" Was heard outside the door and once Madoka reached to open she looked down the hall to see two teens on the ground. A boy was rubbing his chin and Mai was rubbing her head.

"Man, you were going around that corner at 100 miles per hour. Mind slowing down crazy." Kohaku spoke still stroking his wounded jaw. Mai looked up at the boy with an empty look and examined his aura easily as he was mere inches from her. He got up quickly enough and reached his hand forward to help her up.

'He doesn't seem like the kind of person who has any wicked intentions. When I look deeper his aura feels uneasy like he's nervous or scared of something. I don't think it's me though.' Mai thought to herself as she pushed herself up and walked right by the boy and his out stretched hand.

"What a bitch." He said aloud.

"Kohaku! Get back here." They heard Mr. Kinjo behind them and he was making his way up the stairs with a stern expression on his face.

"Excuse me, ladies, I was just on the way to my room." Kohaku said to Madoka and Ayako. They both looked confused as he rushed by the both of them and into a room further down the hall behind them. Mr. Kinjo stopped in front of the two women rubbing the back of his neck roughly.

"Sorry, but as you can tell, my son isn't very cooperative right now. I told him that you all just wanted to talk, but he doesn't feel like sharing. He's like this with his mother and me when we ask him about it. Dodgy and evasive." Mr. Kinjo explained and the two women began to understand what just transpired.

"That's alright. Teenagers aren't easy. We'll try again later." Madoka reasoned to a thankful Mr. Kinjo and they went their separate ways.

As silent as she was, Mai did not leave her coworkers behind. She waited until they finished speaking with their client's husband.

'So he was running away from his Dad when he bumped into me. I know I sensed something was amiss in his aura, but I didn't have to dig too deep to see it. I can imagine the emotions I'd see if I looked closer.' Mai thought sadly as they trio arrived in base.

"Hey kiddo we missed you at lunch." Monk greeted immediately patting the seat next to him. Mai contemplated just retreating to the window, but her guilt was catching up with her.

'I've been dodging everyone all day. They just want to help me.' Mai thought and looking at the couch and then at Monk's excited expression again before taking a seat next to him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder immediately and rubbed her hair with his other hand.

"Sorry to report Kinjo junior isn't very willing to be interviewed." Madoka announced making Naru swivel around in his chair making him look like some corny villain.

"And why is that?" He asked raising an eyebrow.

"He's probably traumatized by what happened. His father says he hasn't even talked to them about what happened yet. How can we expect him to share with us?" Madoka enlightened her pupil.

"I see. Regardless, I'd like to conduct an experiment on the family tonight after dinner just to make sure that Kohaku isn't the one causing this to happen." Naru said then turned his attention back to the monitors.

"Mai. Tea." He said and actually surprised the girl.

'He hasn't been asking for tea at all lately. Does he think I'm too fragile to boil water?' Mai thought to herself as she rose from the couch.

"Uh Naru… Shouldn't someone go with her?" John asked nervously.

"No, I'll keep an eye on her from the monitors." Noll replied and did just as he said.

Mai reached the kitchen only to find that she wasn't alone. Ms. Kinjo was already prepping for dinner. Mai was hoping for a bit more

time to herself but didn't mind having her around. Her aura was warm and nurturing, and Mai could tell she was a great mom.

"Oh hello dear. You didn't have any lunch? Are you hungry now?" She asked and Mai realized that she was a bit peckish.

"I came to get some tea for my boss, but I am a bit hungry." Mai admitted.

"There are some leftovers from lunch so you can have that. Why don't you eat while I make the tea for you?" Ms. Kinjo offered while placing the food down in front of Mai.

"No offense Ms. Kinjo, but my boss is very particular about his tea. I don't mind making it, and you seem pretty busy getting dinner ready." Mai voiced, taking a bite of some food.

"Oh, so he's picky?" She repeated with some mirth in her tone.

"You have no idea." Mai replied with a sarcastic laugh and the two shared a smile.

"Well then I'll place everything out for you and start boiling the water, and you can put it all together as you see fit." Ms. Kinjo offered doing just as she said and going back to her preparations.

"So Mai, what does your job entail as an assistant. Do you manage equipment? Make notes of the investigation? Use some crazy voodoo power to make all the spirits go away?" Ms. Kinjo said trying to make conversation and make Mai laugh.

"With this job, it could be anything, but most regularly I help set up equipment, monitor temperatures, and keep client and team relationships smooth and functional." Mai explained with food in her mouth and Ms. Kinjo looked at her and laughed. Mai looked back at her a bit confused at what she was laughing at.

"What?" Mai asked.

"Nothing, I just realized how cute you are. That stoic thing you do had me convinced that you were a robot." Mai sighed at hearing this and gave a sad smile.

"I'm sorry if I came off cold or apathetic. I'm just going through some things right now, and I don't feel like I used to at all. I just feel like a version of myself that I haven't seen in a long time. Anyway, I'll try to be kinder." Mai explained pushed the food around her bento.

"So you aren't a total bitch?" A voice sailed in causing Mai to turn toward the kitchen entrance and saw Kohaku leaned up against the doorway.

"Young man watch your mouth! Especially when talking to our guests!" Ms. Kinjo raced toward her son and smacked him over the head with her stirring spoon.

"OWWW!" He complained moving away from the woman and further into the kitchen.

"I thought you were avoiding your father? Out of your room so soon?" Ms. Kinjo asked her son returning to her previous task.

"I got hungry okay. That's what I was doing before Dad came down here and bombarded me." Kohaku replied as he opened the fridge and examined its contents. Mai finished up her snack in time for the kettle to ring out. Mai jumped up to grab the singing kettle when Kohaku reached out at the same time and both their hands touched. They both pulled their hands back quickly enough and Mai reached back to get the kettle and start her tea preparation.

Suddenly she could feel herself getting dizzy and her knees buckle underneath her.

"Taniyama!" Ms. Kinjo called. The young psychic melted to the ground as she weakly held onto the counter. The darkness threatened to take over her vision, but Mai resisted with all her might.

'Damn it! It's only about a couple hours. Is this as long as I can hold out?' Mai thought as her eyes grew darker.

"Call Naru." Mai said her breathing getting labored.

"Who's Naru?" Kohaku asked as he and his mother shared a confused look as the girl fainted in their arms.

What is up you guys! I was on vacation, but here is the newest chapter. The reviews were so great! Thanks again my faithful readers. This chapter was a bit plain, but I promise that they'll be more Naru/Mai –ness next time. See you soon.