Naru's POV

I looked over at Mai and saw just how badly she wanted to run to me. I shook my head and looked back at Lin as he spoke of the recent case she envisioned. I heard her sigh softly and quietly and my heart ached. For once I wanted to throw out the professionalism and just hold her. She's been through so much in such little time…

"Ok, Ms. Hara I want you and John to keep an eye on Mai. Ayako, Monk, get ready to go around the grounds cleansing the area. Yasuhara, go get lunch." I said and went to leave the room. I could feel Mai's eye and the fear she started to feel even with Masako and John staying with her. But I couldn't stay with her just yet. I needed to set up cameras and there was no way I was leaving her alone.

"She's strong…" Lin mentioned.

"She's scared. Terrified. And I brought her back into this life." I said, mad at myself.

"No, Noll. You didn't. She never left SPR. She was always apart of this world and you helped her find that out. She's strong. Scared or not she pushes through. She did before too…Like the case with the maze house…or the one at the high school." He said. I looked outside and sighed softly. He was right. She's pushed through everything she's been faced with since she joined.

"Yes…I suppose you're right. But I…" I froze. What did I want to do? Protect her? Love her?

"You want her to be safe. Even if you aren't the one protecting her. But for now, let's focus on this case then get her back to where you're staying so she can rest comfortably. NoriYuki is closer than she thinks…" He said. I could feel my blood run cold, then hot.

If he thinks he can just come back into her life and make her fear everything, he's sadly mistaken.

We set up the cameras and headed back to the base. Yasuhara and John were sat next to Mai, Ms. Hara was sat across from them, quietly sipping her tea. My eyes softened at Mai's laughter. She was close to tears, laughing so hard. I didn't want to interrupt…but I had to.

"Mai. Come with me." I said in my monotoned way and turned to leave the room again, hearing her hurry to catch up as I went out to the back were the well had been.

"Yes Naru?" She asked me quietly. I looked to see her big brown eyes wide and curious as to why I pulled her away. God I just wanted to hold her.

"I hate to ask you to do this, but I need you to try and see if you can be the little girl. Or…see exactly what happened." Her body went ridged, and my heart ached. I knew asking this meant she may see something happen. Be it assault or…worse…

"I can't do that at will, Naru…" She said, trying to excuse herself from doing it.

"You can…you did with the murder…" I said, softening my voice to reassure her, "and I won't leave your side, Mai…" I said, touching her cheek gently. She looked at me with welled up eyes.

"…Promise?" She asked. I nodded and placed a soft kiss on her forehead.

"I promise." I assured and let her lay on the bench by the door. Gently laying my jacket over her as she did. I stood against the wall.

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Mai's POV

He knew I hated doing this part. Before I could understand because he never acted like he cared about me so why the hell is he making me do this; this time, KNOWING I could see something that could scar me forever. I muttered under my breath as I drifted into a sleep. But…nothing happened… I opened my eyes and sat up.

"Mai?" Naru asked, the sun was now setting, "Did you see anything?" He asked. I blinked in confusion. But I couldn't talk? Instead…another voice escaped my lips.

"Who…are you?..." a very small, timid voice asked. Naru blinked and kneeled beside me.

"Mai…what happened?" he asked. My body was shaking on it's own, like I was scared, but I wasn't. I mean…it's just Naru…

"Get away from me!" The voice yelled as my body moved backwards, curling and hiding behind the plant on the porch. Naru furrowed his brow and stood up. Then I saw Gene beside him.

"It's no use to try and control it, Mai…She has control of your body at the moment." He said. I sighed out quietly in my head. Great, I've been possessed. Again. Just like at that church.

"Lin, Ms. Hara" Naru said, Lin coming out of the base with Masako. "It seems Mai has been taken over once again."

"I can feel the spirit of a child…" Masako said behind her sleeves, "possibly the little girl of which are here for…"

"Just like before, we can't exercise this spirit…We have to find why she has taken Mai." Lin said. Masako came over and kneeled beside me.

"Child…What was your name?.." I felt my body calm as she asked this, the child was obviously calmer around women, than men. Good to know.

"Ayano…" The little one said quietly.

"Well, Ayano, would you like to help us find what it is that's keeping you here so you can be with your mother again?" Masako asked, I felt my head nod and my body stand. Masako took my hand gently and I felt a calming energy get sent through my body. Instantly relaxing I followed Masako into the base. Sitting down, Ayako came over and gently touched my head, putting a little strip od paper on my forehead.

"Monk." She said, a chant starting. My body shook and convulsed until I fell to the side, the room going all black as I slipped into unconsciousness.

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I'm sorry these last two were short and probably make no sense to what was happening before. After months of a hiatus and trying to get back into it I'm trying my best get them flowing together again. Please bear with me as I continue this story because I really do want to finish it. It's just taking my brain a little time to get the newer chapters to be coherent with the previous ones. If I need to edit any of these new ones, I will do so, then inform ya'll that I have done so.

THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the support over the hiatus I've taken and I'm SO happily ya'll are enjoying this fic so far. I hope you still enjoy it over the span of the new chapters.