Chapter 29

"MAI!" Naru called and then suddenly heard a whistle from behind him and he felt the hair on the back of his neck raise as two white lights rushed forward. Lin's shiki dashed over and made quick work of stopping whatever was dragging Mai away.

It seemed to work because even though Mai had already gone a few yards away from them she now ceased to move. Noll didn't take a second more to push himself upwards and run to his assistant. She looked up at him with an expression absent of regret or fear. She rose on her own and dusted herself off and looked at her boss blankly. The apathetic look on her face after what she'd done was enough to make Naru see red.

'Why?' Was all Naru could think.

"Mai. I'm only going to ask you this once, and you'd better hope I like your answer. Why did you let that spirit drag you away?" He spoke low and slowly to keep himself from blowing up on the girl.

"It wasn't going to hurt me." She replied simply.

"How could you know that? Based on its previous behaviors and what just transpired with Mrs. Kinjo, this entity is dangerous!" He replied temper rising.

"He's scared and he needs help." Mai voiced cryptically.

'She said he. So she already knows that much about the spirit residing here.' Naru thought briefly before continuing his admonishment.

"If we investigate, we do it safely. Pull a stunt like that again and I will fire you." Naru said looking the girl dead in her eye and not flinching. It was then that he received the emotional reaction he was trying to inspire.

"I apologize." Mai said feeling her throat tighten and her voice crack. She was about to turn around reenter the house, but Naru grabbed her wrist.

"Not so fast. You still owe me some information." Naru voiced coldly, clearly entirely fed up with her.

"But the base i-" She began, but was cut short.

"I sent John to base. Now you and I aren't going to go back inside until we're on the same page. Lin, you're free to go." Naru said alerting Mai to his other assistant's presence. She'd been so spent between the entity calling out to her and Naru ripping her a new one, she didn't even notice his steady aura. The taller man nodded and dismissed himself silently.

'I'm still no good a sensing auras. I missed one that close.' Mai thought bitterly.

"Mai, start where you left off. I want to hear about your dream." He said bringing back her attention.

Mai filled Naru in about it all.

The burning building, the emotions the person from her vision felt, the tugging sensation she'd had all over the location, and even about her one-on-one with Kohaku, though she was kind enough to leave out the fact he was smoking beside the barn. When she was finished her eyes traced the horizon of the field and couldn't help, but wonder was just beyond it calling her.

"Even now it's pulling me toward whatever is out there." Mai announced and her employer nodded.

"So…what are you going to do now?" Mai asked. Naru looked at his assistant and followed her line of vision towards the distant fields.

"I'll wait on Yasuhara, but it seems we may have to go out there and investigate if we want to close this case. For now, we'll seal off the property to keep it from getting in so easily. "He brushed himself off from the earlier excitement. He said nothing else merely went in towards the house and was content when he could hear Mai following him back up to base.

"What's the status of Mrs. Kinjo's condition?" Naru asked upon entering base and seeing Ayako relaxing on the couch.

"She's resting and her husband is watching over her. Lucky for her it wasn't a deep cut or she might have needed some stitches. All she needed was to apply some pressure to help it close naturally." Ayako explained.

"Were you guys able to figure out what happened to her?" He questioned further.

"Lin and I reviewed the footage. She opened the cabinet and a glass smashed her in the face." Monk said grimly.

"Was it paranormal?" Naru probed.

"Absolutely, the amount of force was more like from a cannon than a cabinet. We played it back a couple times and there's no way a glass could have shot out of a cabinet that way. There was also a small delay of time after the cabinet was opened to when she was struck, which definitely rules out an accident." John chimed in and Naru slowly took it all in and was silently contemplating.

"Lin, has Yasuhara contacted us yet?" Naru said and his assistant swiveled around to address him.

"Yes, he said he found a promising lead and will get back to us before night at the latest." Lin responded.

"Alright, the sun is already on its way down and I want this done before dark. Matsuzaki, I need a perimeter set around the house and another layer set around the entire property. John and Monk help her out." Naru said before he retreated to the table and into his notes.

'Why didn't he give me any orders? Is he upset with me?' Mai wondered as she took her usual spot over by the window. She felt the usual tug from beyond the home, but she'd oddly become used to the feeling. It wasn't a bad feeling just very nagging, and all she wanted was for it to go away. Perhaps also out of habit, she began to reminisce about Keiko.

Mai fogged the window with her breath and drew a stick figure with a halo above it.

'She still had so many things she wanted to do and see.' Mai thought as her eyes began to water.

'If Keiko knew I was crying like this she'd probably hug me and tell me that it would all be okay. I'm going to miss her hugs, and her kindness. She was such a beautiful person and she didn't deserve to die like that. Why would Kasai's father, a complete stranger to her…' Mai could feel herself start to unravel as a harsh flashback entered her mind. She could feel the contrast of the cold harsh rain mixed with the warmth of Keiko's blood. She would never forget the way her friend looked at her as she faded away from her.

She could still hear her last words.

"Be brave."

That's what she said.

"I'm going to my room." Mai said getting up once again gaining the attention of everyone in the room. Though Mai did well to hide her own face, Naru could still see her tears.

"Very well. You're dismissed. I'll send Ayako if we need you." With that Mai exited base.

"Naru, Mrs. Kinjo was just attacked and Mai was almost taken by the spirit. I know she must not be in the best of shape right now, but I don't know if she'll be safe on her own. "Monk interjected.

"Ayako, at the earliest convenient time, place some charms outside the girl's room, Kohaku's bedroom, and Mrs. Kinjo room as well." Was his response.

'Does this guy think I'm a damn printer?' Ayako fumed silently.

Mai rounded the corner quite quickly and once again bumped headfirst into Kohaku.

"Listen, we gotta stop doing thi-"Kohaku said again but stopped at the sight of the girls tear stricken face.

"Hey, are you okay?" He said his voice much softer now.

"Yes, I'm fine." Mai whined her voice giving her away completely.

"You don't really expect me to believe that do you?" Kohaku said with a laugh and was about to offer her a hand up, but this time he knew better. Mai helped herself up and wiped her face furiously.

"Yes, I do. Now leave me alone." Mai whispered just loud enough for him to hear and Mai shifted to move past him. Unfortunately, Kohaku shifted as well and blocked the girl's escape route.

"Listen, you made me spill my guts to you! Now you think you're better than me or something? "Kohaku said irritated at the girl's attitude. Mai looked at Kohaku an analyzed him and took in his hurt and feelings of betrayal.

'I can feel that he means well, but I just want to be alone. Besides, so much has happened I couldn't just let him know my entire life story. I'd never burden a stranger like that.' Mai thought and sighed.

"I appreciate the gesture, but this… it's different Kohaku." Mai replied frustrated at her inability to express herself.

"Hmph! Well if it's so different girly I can understand, but at least let me try to cheer you up. Give me a chance?" He asked once more.

"I'm sorry." Was all Mai said when she walked past him again. This time he made no effort to stop her and turned around to watch her go.

Mai sat on her bed and this time made no effort to hold back her tears as vivid flashbacks furiously invaded her mind. Of Keiko's death, of the alleyway, of the poltergeist in the museum who posed as her father, the night she killed her father and everything she'd ever struggled to forget. Mai had never been one to pity her life and situation, but now she only wanted to ask why her?

Why did all these things happen to her?

'I used to be stronger. How did this happen? Before I met Keiko, I could handle all of these things. The teasing at school, the harsh living situations, and anything else life threw my way. So is that it? I became weak and too trusting that I could be happy and have good things in my life. I got used to the idea that I could be happy.' Mai thought before she forced herself to stop crying.

Her pendant caught her eye next to her dresser and Mai pocketed it.

'Then that's what I'll have to do. I'll get stronger. I'll control my powers. I won't cry. I won't let myself get hurt. I'll make sure no one gets close enough to hurt me. That's just the way it has to be.'

Mai closed her eyes and began to meditate and felt all the auras she knew well, those that she'd recently become familiar with, and one that stood just outside the property watching and waiting.

"Ugh! My hands are going to fall off." Ayako whined as she made what had to be the 50th charm. They were extremely intricate scripts that needed concentration and precise details.

'And for that brat to just demand them like it was no big deal was….UGH extremely frustrating!" Ayako thought to herself as she shooed away her thoughts and handed off another ten charms to Monk and John to place around the property.

"John, did you post the charms outside the girl's room already?" Monk questioned as he handled the charms he was given.

"Yes, just a few minutes ago." John acknowledged.

"Did you hear anything… unsettling from Mai's room?" Monk asked slowly hoping John would get the point.

"Unsettling? Like a spirit?" John said and blinked his innocent blue eyes.

"No, did you hear her crying? Or anything like that?" Monk reiterated. John's expression sadden and he nodded, and the others understood. Naru was trying to read an article that Yasu sent him, but his focus was momentarily taken by the conversation the team was having.

'I shouldn't have brought her onto this case. I knew she wasn't ready and she wouldn't be able to perform as necessary, so why did I bring her? I've seen my father bench team members for less.' Naru thought briefly but rerouted his attention back to the important lead they'd receive from Yasuhara moments ago. Naru had sent him away before breakfast this morning to find more public records. His return was debatable since Naru didn't want to call him back into the escalating situation unless necessary.

His email read:

Hey there BIG Boss,

It's your favorite researcher Mr. Osamu XOXO. I found an article about a family by the name of Ihai. They lived not far from where the client is currently housed, but it was sometime before our client's home was built. A family of three used to reside there before the house was burned down claiming the life of their fourteen-year-old son. Only the mother is still alive now since it's been some time since the events took place. I've included the contact information of her nursing home, as well as the original article and obituary of their son. Hope this helps BIG Boss.

P.S. Give Monky- Po my regards!

Naru couldn't help but to roll his eyes, but the information was the push that this investigation needed to work towards completion. Naru wasn't one to assume, but with Mai's dream and this article; all the evidence pointed toward this fourteen-year-old boy as their specter.

'Perhaps it's the similarities between Kohaku's family and the spirits. That could be the reason the spirit is reaching out to him. It' still too soon to be sure.' Naru concluded.

Suddenly there was a knock at the base door and the entry was slowly opened showing Mr. Kinjo.

"Hey everyone. I just wanted to thank you all for the quick action and first aid with my wife, and I wanted to apologize too. Since I was taking care of her, I neglected to provide you all with lunch, but I'll make you all whatever you'd like for dinner though to make up for it. Any requests?" He asked leaning himself in the doorway.

Ayako took this as her queue to speak out.

"I think the easiest thing to do would be a large stew pot without meat. Can you manage or do you need one of us to help you?" Ayako asked.

'Mai's the best at making broth from scratch, but I don't know if she's up to it right now.' Ayako thought as she awaited Mr. Kinjo's response.

"If one of you don't mind. To be honest, stew isn't one of my specialties, and we're so far from everything so ordering would be difficult." He admitted and John and Monk laughed. Ayako stood up and stretched her arms and back.

"I'm going to go check on Mai and ask her if she doesn't mind helping out. You too keep putting up those charms. Hang tight, if Mai doesn't come down, I'll be there to help out." Ayako said as she walked past him and down the hall.

'Oh Mai.' Ayako thought to herself and felt her heart ache for the girl. Ever since Mai moved in with Naru she'd felt that she'd been far too neglectful of her role to help guide Mai.

'I know I'm not her mother, and I never will be able to fill the void her real mother left, but I want her to be able to count on me. I would have loved for Mai to move in with me, but I work so much I wouldn't be able to give her the attention that she really needs. I just hope that one day when it really comes down to it, she'll be able to confide in me. I just hope I haven't already failed her or let her down in the 'mom' department.' Ayako thought as she arrived at the girl's bedroom and stood face to face with one of her own charms.

Before she opened the door she listened closely to see if the girl was still crying as John last reported, but what she did hear surprised her.

"Come in Ayako." Mai said loud enough for the priestess to hear through the door. Ayako was surprised, but not for too long. Mai was obviously reading the auras within the home when Ayako had arrived. When Ayako opened the door, Mai was sitting with her eyes closed.

She was meditating in the center of her bed.

"Hey Mai. How are you feeling?" Ayako trod carefully. Mai thought about how to best answer this question in terms of her new found resolve.

"Better. Much better." She expressed. Ayako wasn't completely sure on how to react to this news, but she didn't want to dwell on it too much right now.

"Well, I came to ask you if you'd be up to helping Mr. Kinjo prepare dinner. He wants to make stew but needs some help. We all know how good your vegetable stew is so I came to get you." Ayako said kindly hoping the compliment would be enough to coax the girl out of the room.

"Yes. I'll be down to help in a minute." Mai said still seated in the center of the bed with her eyes closed. Ayako walked forward and kissed Mai on her forehead and held onto her tightly. Mai made no effort to hug her back, but she didn't push her away either.

'I hope she knows I'm here for her.' Ayako thought as she parted the embrace.

"I'll be in base if you need me." Ayako took this as her cue and retreated back to base to inform the others. Mai sighed loudly and finally placed the necklace back on her neck.

"So Taniyama, what are you doing in school?" Mr. Kinjo asked as he filled the large pot with water and Mai began to chop up vegetables.

"It's exam time. So mostly reviewing in all of my classes. I'm also preparing for college entrance exams." Mai stated plainly.

"Wow, college entrance exams. I can remember when I was that young. This is an important time in your life. Are you nervous?" He asked turning up the burner on the stove.

"No. My boss is very strict and doesn't allow my grades to fall. Because of him, I'm one of the top students at my school. Nothing to worry about." Mai replied.

"He does seem to be that kind of person. But I'm glad he has his priorities straight when it comes to his business and employees. I must admit I was a bit worried when I noticed how young you all are." Mr. Kinjo revealed.

"You aren't the first to say so, but believe me he is the real deal. You won't be disappointed Mr. Kinjo." Mai said as she watched him place the noodles into the large pot.

"Wow, Ms. Taniyama. You have a lot of faith in that boss of yours. Are the two of you dating perhaps?" He asked again and wiggled his eyebrows at the girl.

'No, we just share an apartment, cook for each other, he picks me up from school, we work together, and sometimes he brings me tea when I can't sleep. So don't get the wrong idea.' Mai thought sarcastically.

"No. We maintain a professional relationship. That kind of thing would only deter our investigations. Please put these in the pot." Mai replied handing off the vegetables and making her way to the spice rack.

"I apologize, I was merely curious from his previous displays when you were in danger or not feeling well. He watches you like a hawk." Mr. Kinjo replied and Mai couldn't hold down the feelings of butterflies in her stomach.

"You should start boiling the eggs Mr. Kinjo, you wouldn't want the noodles to over boil and get soft. They don't taste very good when they're soft." Mai diverged from the comment. She turned away and filled the second pot with water in hopes her blush would fade quickly enough.

Hey Readers! See that wasn't too long was it? Anyways thank you. BTW I have heard the cries for some spell check action in the previous chapters. I'll be working on that for a bit while writing the next chapter. I hope you guys enjoyed this one. Thank you for all the ratings and reviews.